Hailing from Kansas City, MO, Red Line Chemistry was born in 2004 and consists of Tom Brown (bass, vocals), Mike Mazzarese (drums), Dave Fyten (guitar, vocals), Andrew Breit (guitar, keyboard, vocals), and Brett Ditgen (lead vocals). Over the years, the band has grinded out the Midwest scene, building a solid fan base and branding the Red Line Chemistry name as one of the elite and most promising groups in the area. In the past decade plus, the band has released three albums, three EPs, and pumped out six singles, including their breakout album Dying for Living in 2010 and follow-up Tug of War in 2013. With a sound all their own, uniting the best of Grunge Rock with a modern Hard Rock flair, Red Line Chemistry continue to fight their way through and recently signed with new and prominent label Pavement Entertainment. In honor of the new partnership, the band decided to dust off their 2006 debut album Chemical High & a Hand Grenade and re-mix, remaster, and essentially re-invent the twelve tracks for their dedicated fans, as well as new listeners in 2015. The long awaited re-release of their Chemical High and a Hand Grenade was satisfied on July 24th.
The re-released album starts out with “Bullets and Armor;” a thriving, fast song that includes quite some guitar solos. The title track, “Chemical High and a Hand Grenade,” includes heavy guitars as well, mellow vocals, and an easy rhythm. Then the song “Heavy” continues the album, trying to figure out how to handle tough situations. The following piece, called “Meds for the Hypocrite,” picks up the speed a little, pushing the listener to tap along with the thriving rhythm. Keeping almost the same rhythm, “The Empty” continues next with a chorus that is slowed down a bit and changes the pace slightly.
Much slower and with heavily intense lyrics, “Penny Drama” amplifies the attention of listener. This song is quite a break in the otherwise similar rhythm structures of others before it. Going back to old habits, but with some lighter guitar riffs, “The Soldier” carries interesting vocal parts. Slightly reminding of Oriental vocalists, Ditgen manipulates his voice in an extraordinary way. Loud and filled with distorted guitars, “Thinking Retro Kills” is fully back at the style Red Line Chemistry has decided on for this album. There is an easy rhythm and an easy chorus the get the listener to move along again.
More than half way through the album, “Becoming of Saints” has a focus on the vocals as the music quiets down for the verses. Starting out with acoustic guitar and keeping it slow, “Apology” begs for forgiveness. “Home” is preparing the listener for the end of the album and is an interesting track that reminds a little bit of Metallica with the opening. Closing the album fast and in intense fashion is “Bloodlust (Dead in Santa Carla)” with lyrics that add some tragic and melancholy to the song, whilst the rhythm pushes the listener forward.
Red Line Chemistry re-released an almost ten year old album to remember the olden days. With the new version of Chemical High & A Hand Grenade, the listener can live through this time again and look back how much the world has changed. The album is great for completing an existing collection or fans that missed Red Line Chemistry’s early material. Maybe this album is also a gift for the fans to shorten the wait for new material, but only time will tell. CrypticRock gives the 2015 version of Chemical High & A Hand Grenade 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Pavement Entertainment
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