Red Sun Rising – Thread (Album Review)

Following up a hit debut album can be a humble undertaking, but for Red Sun Rising, the task at hand seems natural. Slated to drop on Friday, March 30, 2018, Red Sun Rising are thrilled to release their highly anticipated sophomore studio album, Thread, on Razor & Tie Records. A follow-up 2015’s Polyester Zeal, this time around, for Thread, Red Sun Rising worked alongside veteran Producer Matt Hyde (Deftones, AFI) to offer fans 48 minutes of honest and inviting Rock music to stir the mind and floor the imagination.

For Rock fans unacquainted with the band, the roots of Ohio-based Red Sun Rising go way back to 2006 when a chance meeting between two old classmates, Vocalist Mike Protich and Guitarist Ryan Williams, founded a musical kinship and the pair later formed Red Sun Rising in 2007. Over the next 7 years, Red Sun Rising put their nose to the grindstone, doing whatever it took to succeed. All in all, Red Sun Rising independently released two full-length records and two EPs via their social media platforms and toured the country, building a solid fanbase along the way.

Then, in 2014, after garnering national attention on the touring circuit, Red Sun Rising realized their dreams when the band signed to Razor & Tie Records. Joining Protich and Williams in Red Sun Rising, Rhythm Guitarist Tyler Valendza, Bassist Ricky Miller, and Drummer Pat Gerasia rounded-up the band’s core lineup. Aiming for the skies, Red Sun Rising made their major label debut with the release of the aforementioned Polyester Zeal on August 7, 2015.

Seeing their hard work pay off, Polyester Zeal scored not one, but two hit singles for Red Sun Rising, as both “The Otherside” and “Emotionless” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. Garnering more accolades, though the nod went to The Strumbellas, Red Sun Rising were ecstatic to be nominated for Best New Rock/Alternative Rock Artist at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards, a testimony to the talented band.

Now, after a few years of touring hard, Red Sun Rising return as Thread is the band’s first release to feature new Rhythm Guitarist Dave McGarry. As for the album title, Thread holds definitive meaning for the band and their style of music. While many will listen to Red Sun Rising and feel their style is Hard Rock, Alternative, or Post-Grunge, the band firmly believes they cannot be isolated to any one category. To cleverly define their genre, Red Sun Rising uses a hashtag, #WeAreThread; in that the bands music consists of various musical influences all woven together like threads in fabric.

Steadily kicking-off Thread, the beautifully muddy effects and driving guitar solo inside “Fascination” convey strength into the emotive lyrics sang by Protich. “Left For Dead” is a heart-breaking depiction of someone who was left behind that builds to an explosive musical and vocal climax in the song’s final minute. Reminiscent of early Nirvana, the first single off Thread, “Deathwish,” is a catchy anthem for which Red Sun Rising also shot a very telling music video directed by Brad Golowin. In what should be a favorite among Red Sun Rising fans, “Stealing Life” says that seizing the moment can help life go on yet this person is letting it all slip away. Moving on, “El Lazo” remits the uneasiness of letting someone go, followed by the hopeful numbers “Lonely Girl” and “Veins.”

In “Clarity,” Red Sun Rising deliver the most up-tempo and heavy vibes on Thread before “Benny Two Dogs” brings a 1990s flavor of songwriting into the mix. Thereafter, “Rose” is a tight ballad assuring someone they are not alone but with perplexity about who we are in this universe. A perfect ending, “Evil Like You” is a bewitching piece of music centered around an alluring piano hook, making it one of the stand out tracks on Thread.

All this said, as Red Sun Rising’s sophomore effort, Thread should unquestionably hand the impressive Rockers a second consecutive hit album and an upsurge in success. The songs are passionately well-written with all the affecting hooks and vocals necessary to drive meaningful Rock music. Red Sun Rising are well on their way to breaking through even further in 2018 as they embark on a Spring headlining tour before hitting the road this summer as direct support to Shinedown and Godsmack. Well-worth a listen, CrypticRock gives Thread 4 out of 5 stars.

Tour Dates:
March 24 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Wonder Bar
March 25 – Philadelphia, PA – Foundry
March 28 – Johnson City, TN – Capone’s
March 29 – Nashville, TN – Top Golf
March 30 – Little Rock, AR – Rev Room
March 31 – Dallas, TX – Trees
April 3 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
April 5 – Tucson, AZ – Club XS
April 6 – Phoenix, AZ – Pub Rock
April 7 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
April 8 – Las Vegas, NV – Beauty Bar
April 10 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
April 11 – Sacramento, CA – Holy Diver
April 13 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
April 15 – Seattle, WA – Chop Suey
April 16 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
April 18 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
April 19 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon
April 20 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
April 21 – Sioux City, IA – Anthem at Hard Rock
April 22 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
April 24 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
April 28 – Jacksonville, FL –Welcome to Rockville
April 29 – Sunrise, FL – Fort Rock
May 1 – Wilmington, DE – The Queen *
May 2 – Richmond, VA – The National *
May 4 – Charlotte, NC – Carolina Rebellion
May 8 – Toronto, ON – The Phoenix Concert Theatre *
May 9 – Kitchener, ON – Elements *
May 11 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom *
May 12 – Fort Wayne, IN – The Clyde Theatre *
May 13 – Somerset, WI – Northern Invasion
May 17 – Fargo, ND – The Sanctuary *
May 19 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre *
May 20 – Columbus, OH – Rock on the Range
May 22 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom *
May 24 – Omaha, NE – Sokol Auditorium *
May 25 – Pryor, OK – Rocklahoma
Dates with The Used *

Purchase Thread:

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