Review Summary: Non-Icon For Hire?
We need a new genre for this kind of album. Pop rock won’t cut it because the music is sometimes too aggressive for the term. Hard rock won’t cut it either because the music has too many huggable, squishy candy cola plushies in the notes. So it’s another band like Icon For Hire, Skillet, The Letter Black, Avril Lavigne, Falling In Reverse, Hollywood Undead, etc. It’s Sugar Rock (ah-ha, that works) with a hint of Tobasco sauce. It may or may not be digestible depending on how done you are with this derivative, masquerading-as-unique sound, but let’s be honest, there’s still some cheesy sugar fun if you enjoy that particular Indian treat and this music.
Welcome to the album that wants to be everything. It wants to be seen as metal, but isn’t cult or heavy enough. The breakdowns are also weak, and the screaming is hit or completely miss. The metal slaps with the force of a wet, colourful paint brush in the face; how exciting, yet also as obnoxious! RedHook also want to pop with the pop stars just as hard, though such sections are ultimately the musical equivalent to knock-off Pop Tarts. They also have a bit of angsty pop-punk energy. Indeed, they have all the vigorous tactics, but they use them in incredibly average tracks. Indeedy, the album is chock full of fun, forgettable tactics, like a Final Fantasy game titled incorrectly.
Sort of dubsteppy bits are here, but not really. Metally metals are also sorta here. Various flavours arise from the sugary coats, and they are all distractions and artificial. One last final (and also the first) question: is their art official? Well no, considering how derivative it is, if you purchase the album expecting original art you will be scammed. It’s counterfeit, it’s a great big phony! Therefore, entertainment is a minor factor compared to being ripped off. This album is simply not needed, and though catchy and spunky, that’s all it has.
