Released: 22 November
Independent
There’s something in the water in Sydney. RedHook’s sophomore album Mutation is here to reinforce that. Their debut album, Postcards From A Living Hell, being so well received critically, hasn’t stopped the band coming out with a follow up so quickly. The 11-track, genre-twisting, album builds upon the existing foundations that the band have laid for themselves.
Almost picking up where they left off, ‘Pyromaniac’ starts the album off showing that the band are not here to rest on their laurels. The roaring chorus on this track will have you hooked straight out of the gate. ‘Breaking Up With’, lyrically is very vulnerable, but musically will threaten you with the sharp end of a broken glass bottle for even asking how it’s getting on. RedHook’s ability to insert a saxophone solo so flawlessly into a song is an impressive skill to behold.
Something that stood out about RedHook’s sophomore album were the STACKED features. ‘HEXXX’ is this album’s first feature. Bringing breakout New Zealand artist, Vana, onto this track is the perfect storm. A high paced, tempo raising, banger that takes no prisoners. Back-to-back feature, ‘Dr Frankenstein’ brings Brits Holding Absence to the party. An anthemic chorus and melodic verses, makes this track a highlight in the early stages of the album.
‘Bomb.com’ sets the album to explode like an actual bomb. The “Send it” motif is appropriate, because this track sends the album up another level. The riffs on this track are heavy. It doesn’t take too much to decode what ‘Hot Tub’ is trying to get at lyrically as the musicality on this track is just as sexy. These two act as a strong contrasting pair of tracks in the middle of the album.
The next feature on the album comes in the form of ‘Cannibal.’ Featuring Tasmania’s very own metalcore outfit Alpha Wolf, the feature on this track is a strong one. The contrast vocally between Emmy Mack and Lochie Keogh is impeccable, they complement each other perfectly on possibly the heaviest track on the album. In a complete juxtaposition from the track before, ‘Hurt Like Hell’ is a melodic jam. The track still has its breakdown to show that its focus isn’t just the vocal aspect of the songwriting. More evidence that RedHook don’t miss when it comes time to change things up.
‘Party Zombie’ is possibly my favourite track on the album. A vibey and upbeat track starting stripped back and building gradually, layer upon layer to become an alt-party anthem. ‘Scream 2’ brings electro skate-punk to the party. Not a mix of genres that I thought I’d find on this album, but a welcome surprise. Lyrically, it is a very intelligent track, mirroring the movie that shares the track’s name. ‘Tourist’ is possibly the hardcore breakup track of the year. Incredibly vulnerable lyrically, backed up by heavy instrumentals, it is big middle finger to that ex that we can all relate to.
This album is a strong follow up to their debut and RedHook cannot be accused of rushing themselves to put out an album too quickly. It shows how the band have matured and grown over the last 19 months and promises that they will continue to grow and challenge expectations. MUTATION has its highs and its lows sonically, but the pace and the punch that RedHook have made themselves known for is evident throughout. They’ve promised growth, development and more genre-challenging music, and they sure have delivered with this album.
Rating: 8/10
Review by Ethan Cooke
Pre-order MUTATION here
RedHook – Mutation Tracklisting:
1. Pyromaniac
2. Breaking up With
3. HEXXX feat. Vana
4. Dr. Frankenstein feat. Holding Absence
5. Bomb.com
6. Hot Tub
7. Cannibal feat. Alpha Wolf
8. Hurt Like Hell
9. Party Zombie
10. Scream 2
11. Tourist
