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November 2024

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August 2024

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Red Rose: On the Cusp of Change

Melodic/Heavy/Progressive Metal

4.5/5.0

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Scarlet Records
by Craig Hartranft,  02.15.2013

Red Rose:: wear sunglasses at night.

On the Cusp of Change may be an appropriate title for Red Rose's second album. Their debut album was largely an exercise in melodic hard rock, the classic style with a sometimes metal edge. It was interesting and entertaining, but still rather rudimentary stuff.

With this new album, it seems Red Rose want to turn the corner to something more akin to melodic heavy, sometimes progressive, metal. One thing they have done, to their credit, is give the listener more this time around. The first work was eight songs at 35 minutes; here you get eight songs at nearly one hour.

Curiously, Red Rose begins the album with their longest song, When Roses Faded, and you get your first sense of their expansion into melodic prog metal. Later the same comes around again in Original Sin and This Bitter World. Alternatively, other songs smack of that past melodic hard rock groove, only with a more heavy metal tone, like Chasing Freedom and especially King of the Local Crowd. Red Rose offers two metal ballads with Alone in the Night and the closing Seize the Day, the latter almost has the flavor of West Coast AOR.

Give Red Rose strong marks for their willingness to advance in concept and creativity, both hallmarks of an intelligent and forward thinking band. On the Cusp of Change is a solid, progressive, and entertaining album of melodic metal. Easily recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Give Red Rose strong marks for their willingness to advance in concept and creativity, both hallmarks of an intelligent and forward thinking band. On the Cusp of Change is a solid, progressive, and entertaining album of melodic metal.

Alphabetical Index

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]