Up until a few weeks ago I stupidly assumed that Redlightsflash were just another run-of-the-mill hardcore band that just happened to have an interesting gimmick in that they were ‘foreign’. How wrong was I, because what actually happened when I put ‘And Time Goes By’ into my stereo was that I happened to stumble across a blistering slice of melodic hardcore that is one of the most vital records you’ll happen to hear this year.
Redlightsflash come over like Midtown gone hardcore, with a triple layer of vocals which adds variety and spice to the songs. Over the course of just 26 minutes and 12 songs you’ll be treated to a number of awesome sonic blasts that will open your eyes and ears. There’s melody, maniacial screaming and, dare I say it, a hell of a lot of meaning in the songs too. Redlightsflash have something to say – a rarity for a ‘punk’ band in 2002. If you want songs about fucking your dog, turn away now.
‘And Time Goes By’, so named because of failed talks by so-called world leaders on the subject of global warming, is simply an album you have to check out. ‘No Reply’ is an absolutely awesome opening, blasting straight in-yer-face and it’s a real pity the song is so damn short. But all is forgiven when ‘P(owerful) C(hoices)’ comes out kicking and screaming with more drums and guitars than you can shake a stick at. And blimey it’s good. It’s the mix of melody and pure brute force that actually makes RLF so good, with enough to interest both your pop-punk kids and your hardcore fans alike. ‘Unanimous’ maintains the high standards that have already been set and ‘The Red Tape’ is stunning. Taunting the world leaders they despise with the sarcastic “they believe we’re on the verge of a significant breakthrough”, RLF are as vital for their message as they are for their music.
‘The Stones Unturned’ is better still, with riffs bouncing off the walls to connect with some of the most insane drumming you’ll ever hear. And unbelievably the harmonies remain through all of this – a ray of sunshine in what sounds like the most violent of storms. There’s no let up with ‘No Life Assurance (What Once Has Been So Natural)’ a song that is as fast and brutal as many of the others, but doesn’t quite have punch. Ditto ‘Contaminate The Unison’which is perhaps the weakest song here.
The instrumental ‘Implied Warranty’ breaks things up nicely, giving a little respite before ‘Glorified Servant – A Dedicated man’, a track which, to me, sounds most like pop-punkers Midtown. But that is no bad thing at all. ‘Every Single Breath’ rocks like an absolute bastard, with drums pounding and riffs peeled off with reckless abandon before the finale of ‘Lose This Day’ which after a slow start winds up into a monster of a social commentary.
As you’d expect Redlightsflash step things up a notch live with the songs coming across even more vicious and powerful, so much so that it’s impossible not to become absorbed. And this has been written by someone who doesn’t really care for hardcore that much or its ideals – so for me to be impressed all I can say is that this record really is that good – so good that if it wasn’t for two weaker tracks, and the fact that ‘No Reply’ is too damn short, this would have got a full 5 stars…
Paul.