CRITICAL SOUNDBITES
For new album ‘Release The Panic’ out now
RED, left to right: Anthony Armstrong, Joe Rickard, Randy Armstrong and Michael Barnes.
Click for high res photo: http://msopr.com/files/red_band_sm.jpg.
“…anthemic heart-pounders such as ‘Perfect Life,’ ‘Die For You,’ and „Same Disease,‟ and
some of the most commanding ballads, like „Hold Me Now‟ and „Glass House,‟ the band has
ever recorded. Release the Panic should catapult RED to the high ranks of today’s top
radio-rock acts, a destination they rightfully should have reached years ago.”
--Reggie Edwards, REVOLVER, (March 2013)
“RED continue to craft heavy, hypnotic, and heartfelt hard rock on their fourth full-length
album. Release the Panic expands upon their patent sound with a more immense and
immersive scope. …on the first single ‘Perfect Life,’ they carry a massive stadium-size
refrain into crossover territory while ‘The Moment We Come Alive’ sails to divine heights
on a tender piano and vocal crescendo. All said and done, it‟s one of the most epic,
entrancing, and engaging hard rock albums of 2013 and RED’s best work yet.”
--Rick Florino, ARTISTDirect, (February 4, 2013)
“…excellent balladry and swift hooks. ‘Hold Me Now’ is not only one of the record‟s strongest
cuts, but it should stand as one of Red‟s top soft songs to date.”
--Tom Dodderidge, MINDEQUALSBLOWN.NET (February 11, 2013)
“Their newest album, RELEASE THE PANIC, delivers a strong message within an eclectic style
of mainstream rock and heavy metal. The drums, bass intro, and Michael Barnes‟ scream in the
first song are an intense precursor to an awesome album.”
-- April Covington, CHRISTIAN MUSIC REVIEW, 3.7 out of 5 star review (February 5, 2013)
“…an incredibly original and unique album. While tracks such as ‘Damage,’ ‘If We Only’ and
the album‟s first single ‘Perfect Life’ still remain true to the sound of RED past, stylistically
experimental tracks such as ‘Breathe Into Me,’ ‘Die For You,’ and ‘So Far Away’ find the
band in new territory and they pull it off effortlessly.”
--Kristyn Clarke, UNSKINNYPOP.COM (February 11, 2013)
“[RELEASE THE PANIC] features a nearly 50/50 mix of head pounding screamers and radio
friendly pop metal tunes.”
--Lou Vickers, ULTIMATE GUITAR (February 5, 2013)
“Heavy-hitting tracks like ‘Damage’ and the title track—which are some of the hardest songs
RED has written— will please any headbanger while ‘Hold Me Now‟ and ‘So Far Away’ are the
melodic ballads that will move your heart. ‘Perfect Life’ and ‘Die for You’ are quality rock
songs sure to garner mainstream radio play. “
--Sarah Brehm, HM MAGAZINE, 4 out of 5 star review (February 2013)
“Sounding like action hero movie fare, the title track opens the floodgates with a call to Blackout!
Let your panic out! Producer Howard Benson (P.O.D., Skillet, Daughtry) has been called to
make records feel gigantic before, and he‟s doing it well again here. ‘Perfect Life’ is a four-onthe-floor adrenaline rush that sees through today‟s airbrushed entertainment world… and
recognizes our temporary earthly condition.”
--Ed Cardinal, CROSSWALK.COM (February 19, 2013)
“Opening with the title track, RED make it very clear they‟re on a mission to reach a dying world
that‟s panicking over small things in the grand scheme of life. Moving onto ‘Perfect Life,’ a
stadium anthem if there ever was one; you can close your eyes and picture the song being
played in a huge arena with thousands singing along. Making it clear there‟s more to life than
fame and having everything you could ever want, RED turn the heat up with this song, getting
us ready for the rest of the album. …This is RED‟s best work, hands down-whether you‟re
looking at their message, their music, their ballads, their anthems or any other aspect. This
couldn‟t be a more complete album.”
--Reggie Edwards, THE FRONT ROW REPORT, 9.5 out of 10 star review (February, 2013)
“The writing is cohesive, the guitars and drums mixed well, and Michael‟s song somewhat
signature vocals are pitch perfect… ‘Release the Panic’ and ‘Damage’ both come out blasting
with chugging guitars and aggressive vocals.”
--Lee Brown, INDIEVISIONMUSIC.COM (February 13, 2013)
“RED is back with its strings mixed with metal and screaming and of course their hard hitting
lyrics...”
--Bill Hudson, IGN.COM, 8.9 out of 10 star review (February 15, 2013)
“Lead vocalist Michael Barnes has one heck of a voice; he‟s easily my favorite part of this
record, and really can sing. The backing instrumentation is very solid as well...”
--Bradley Christensen, ABSOLUTEPUNK.NET (February 26, 2012)
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