Gone is the sixth studio album by American Christian rock band Red. It was released on October 27, 2017 through Essential Records. It was produced by Rob Graves. A 17-track digital deluxe edition is also available.
| Gone | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 27, 2017 | |||
| Recorded | Mid-2017 | |||
| Studio | Dark Horse Studios, Franklin, Tennessee | |||
| Genre | Alternative metal, christian rock, electronic rock, hard rock | |||
| Length | 37:49 | |||
| Label | Essential | |||
| Producer | Rob Graves | |||
| Red chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Gone | ||||
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Recording
editIn a March 2017 interview, guitarist Anthony Armstrong revealed the band, bassist and twin brother Randy Armstrong and singer Michael Barnes, were in the early stages of recording their sixth studio album. The sessions took place in the northeast US state of Maine, which is where their longtime producer Rob Graves lives and where their previous release, Of Beauty and Rage (2015), was also recorded. The location of the studio, surrounded by woods with wildlife, had a positive effect on the group and they agreed to return to record Gone with just Graves and themselves. By March 2017, the album's title had already been agreed upon by the band. Red took a break from recording in March 2017 to continue with the second half of their tour to commemorate the tenth anniversary of their debut album, End of Silence (2006).[1]
Musically, Anthony noted that Gone continues the style of Red's previous albums as its approach is "alive and well", but wanted to avoid playing "the same four chords" as compared to other contemporary rock bands.[1] Randy approached the album like the band was making its last, a thought he also had with each previous release which prompted him to give the fans "something heavy", yet makes people think about big questions in life. Red albums are known to address darker themes in their music, such as the struggles humans face in life. Gone includes the band's second recorded cover in the form of "Unstoppable" by Australian musician Sia.[2]
Release
editGone was released on October 27, 2017.[2][3] A digital pre-order became available on September 22, which included a digital download of "Still Alive", the radio single.[citation needed] Those who pre-order will have access to a second download on October 13, "Gone". A digital-only deluxe edition of the album includes 17 tracks. Limited edition packages were made available via the band's PledgeMusic site.[2]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | Positive[4] |
| CCM Magazine |   [5] |
| Cryptic Rock | 4/5[6] |
| Indie Vision Music | 2/5[7] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [8] |
| Today's Christian Entertainment | [9] |
| Melodic Net |  [10] |
| Sputnikmusic | [11]
[12] |
Gone was met with mixed to positive reviews from critics and fans. According to the aggregate website Album of The Year, the album holds a user rating score of 61 out of 100, based on 26 reviews.
In a review for Jesus Freak Hideout, David Craft gave the album three stars out of five. He thought that while Gone remains "exceptionally listenable", it would leave a number of Red fans "frustratingly disappointed" due to their incorporation of more electronic music elements to their arrangements and the scarcity of memorable song hooks and melodies.[8]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Step Inside, the Violence" | Anthony Armstrong, Rob Graves | 3:04 |
| 2. | "Still Alive" | A. Armstrong, Graves, Michael Barnes, Jason McArthur | 3:19 |
| 3. | "Losing Control" | Graves, McArthur, Stacy Hogan, Dustin Bates | 4:08 |
| 4. | "Gone" | A. Armstrong, Graves, McArthur | 3:38 |
| 5. | "Coming Apart" | Barnes, Graves, McArthur | 3:55 |
| 6. | "Unstoppable" (Sia cover) | Sia Furler, Christopher Braide | 3:40 |
| 7. | "Fracture" | Randy Armstrong, A. Armstrong, Barnes, Graves | 3:09 |
| 8. | "Chasing Your Echo" | A. Armstrong, Barnes, Graves, Joe Rickard | 3:36 |
| 9. | "A.I." | A. Armstrong, Graves, Bates, McArthur, Mark Holman | 4:10 |
| 10. | "Singularity" | Graves | 5:10 |
| Total length: | 37:49 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "The Mask Slips Away" | Barnes, Graves, A. Armstrong | 4:44 |
| 12. | "Still Alive (Looking for a Reason)" | Barnes, A. Armstrong, Graves, McArthur | 3:08 |
| 13. | "Gone" (JSapp Remix) | A. Armstrong, Graves, McArthur | 3:21 |
| 14. | "Unstoppable" (Redux Version) | Furler, Braide | 3:52 |
| 15. | "Step Inside, The Violence" (Alex Nice Remix) | A. Armstrong, Graves | 2:49 |
| 16. | "Coming Apart" (Deconstructed) | Barnes, Graves, McArthur | 3:55 |
| 17. | "Gone" (.grav3s Version) | A. Armstrong, Graves, McArthur | 3:27 |
| Total length: | 63:05 | ||
Personnel
editRed
- Michael Barnes – lead vocals
- Anthony Armstrong – guitars, programming
- Randy Armstrong – bass, backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Joe Rickard – drums, programming, drum editing
Additional personnel
- Tom Baker – mastering
- Jeremy Cowart – band photography
- Rob Graves – producer, engineering, programming, string engineering
- Igor Khoroshev – programming, string arrangements
- Jason McArthur – executive producer
- Alex Niceforo – programming
- Oscar Nilsson – drum engineering
- Tim Parker – art direction, design
- Paul Pavao – mixing
- Jason Root – A&R
- Justin Spotswood – engineering
Charts
edit| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[13] | 38 |
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[14] | 1 |
| US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[15] | 5 |
| US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[16] | 2 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[17] | 7 |
References
edit- ^ a b Drexel, Kate (March 8, 2017). "Interview: Red's Anthony Armstrong on the band's upcoming album and more". AXS. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ a b c "JFH News: Grammy-Nominated Rock Band RED Announces New Album "Gone" for October 27". Jesusfreakhideout. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ "RED Announces New Album, "Gone" - Indie Vision Music". September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ Monger, James Christopher. "Gone - RED".
- ^ Argyrakis, Andy (October 15, 2017). "RED - 'Gone' album review". CCM Magazine. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
- ^ Blue, Jeannie (October 29, 2017). "Red - Gone (Album Review)". Cryptic Rock. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
- ^ Zinn, Zac (November 8, 2017). "Album Review: Red - Gone". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
- ^ a b "RED, "Gone" Review". Jesusfreakhideout. October 31, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
- ^ Heilman, Jay (October 28, 2017). "RED 'Gone'". Today's Christian Entertainment. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Roth, Kaj (November 7, 2017). "Melodic Net Review: Red - Gone". Melodic Net. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Benny20 (March 7, 2018). "Red (USA) - Gone (album review )". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Toondude (October 26, 2017). "Red (USA) - Gone (album review 2)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Red Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Red Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Red Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Red Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Red Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2017.