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Code Red Riot: Mask
Code Red Riot - Mask Music Review

Code Red Riot: Mask

Modern Heavy Metal Rock
4.0/5.0

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Red Music/Sony
Releasing: 29.06.2018
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 27.06.2018

Code Red Riot is a new band created by drummer, producer, and songwriter Corky Gainsford after leaving Las Vegas alt metal band Otherwise in 2015. Dissatisfied that they would never reach their true potential, Gainsford decided to strike out on his own and develop his own tunes. (It was pretty good idea as the latest Otherwise album was nothing more than mediocre.) For his debut album, Mask, Gainsford wrote all the songs, produced and, excepting the lead guitar work, played all the instruments, while also handling the vocals. On lead guitar is Tyler "Taz" Azure, a heretofore hidden six string talent from Minnesota.

Code Red Riot Band Photo Click For Larger Image

Code Red Riot

Gainsford's Code Red Riot musical style could best be described as an intersection between classic hard rock and modern alternative groove metal, dropped into three minute tunes. With a keen sense of melody and harmony, you'll find the riffs to be sharp and brisk, and the rhythm section thick with gallop and groove. Gainsford sings clean, yet with modern metal assertiveness and sometimes a bit screamo. Azure lays down some premium solos throughout the album.

For the songs, the formula is pretty simple: start the song with groove and gusto with the riffs roaring and rhythm section thundering, dose it with latent melody and harmony, drop in a catchy refrain, and the finish it with rousing guitar solo. Then do it in a little more than three minutes each time. Oh yeah, don't forget to drop in a few f-bombs here and there. That's what you get from the start. For some nuances, the vocal line of Ghost finds Gainsford almost rapping. Alternatively, with 7 More Days, you get something closer to AOR melodic hard rock, notably from the more inherent melody and harmony, but also Gainsford's milder vocal presence. Also a tad lighter is My Falling Soul, the closest thing to a hard rock ballad on the album. It develops from voice and acoustic guitar to larger riffs and a keen solo. Otherwise, most of the other songs are fast paced rockers like Panic And Pain, Chaos Calls, and Fuel In The Fire.

Essentially, Corky Gainsford's Code Red Riot is a fine outlet for his otherwise frustrated musical expression. No pun intended there. If you don't like where your story is going, then write a new chapter. Code Red Riot's Mask is an ambitious album of modern alternative heavy metal rock. Check it out.




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The Bottom Line

Corky Gainsford's Code Red Riot is a fine outlet for his otherwise frustrated musical expression. No pun intended there. Code Red Riot's Mask is an ambitious album of modern alternative heavy metal rock. Check it out.

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