After their debut release The Wreckage, Candlelight Red keeps on rocking with the four-track EP Demons. Made-up of Ryan Hoke (vocals), Jeremy Edge (guitar, vocals), Jamie Morral (bass, vocals) and Brian Dugan (drums), they instantly won me over as a fan last year and they solidified their status as a reckoning force with this release. Each song is fantastic and can be listened to over and over again. Despite its short run time, Demons packs more punch than most full-length albums.
“Demons” is a bone crushing rock song that comes out hard and really hits its strides during the chorus. The clean and powerful vocals carry the song to the next level. It is hard not to scream along, but I would not want the neighbors to worry about what is going on in my house. Keeping the intensity of the opener, “Cutter” is another hard hitting song.
“Lifeless” keeps this EP going strong. So far, it is three for three. “Sleeping Awake” takes the tempo down a notch from the previous high energy songs. By toning it down, the emotional impact is heightened and the vocals are on full display. The music quality is almost dreamlike as if wondering through some No Man’s Land lost and broken while trying to find a safe and comfortable place. I think that it is the best song out of the four and could not have ended it better. It is beautifully haunting.
Candlelight Red’s Demons is the epitome of the saying “short and sweet.” Even though it is an EP, this is one of the top releases that I have listened to recently. It gets better with each go through. Candlelight Red is a burst of refreshing air to today’s mainstream music. Keep the music coming, guys!
Key Tracks: ALL
Brian McKinnon – Sr. MuzikReviews.com Staff
October 6, 2012
