Rated R is the eighth studio album by American Christian rock band Red. It was released on September 29, 2023 through the band's independent label Red Entertainment in collaboration with The Fuel Music. The album was produced by Anthony Armstrong, the band's guitarist. It is the first studio album to feature the band's new drummer Brian Medeiros.[1][2][3]
| Rated R | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 29, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Christian metal, Christian rock, Alternative metal, Hard rock, Electronic rock | |||
| Length | 33:50 | |||
| Label | Red Entertainment, The Fuel | |||
| Producer | Anthony Armstrong | |||
| Red chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Rated R | ||||
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Background edit
The album is produced by the band's guitarist, Anthony Armstrong, making it their first studio album to be entirely self-produced. Joe Rickard, who is the band's long-time friend and former drummer, did the mixing for the album, a role he also provided on their previous album, Declaration, as well as co-writing the lead single, "Surrogates".[4] The album also features songwriting credit from Keith Wallen, who also co-wrote "Sever", the band's lead single from Declaration.
Release and promotion edit
The group's first live album, Until We Have Faces: Live and Unplugged, was released on December 2, 2022.[5] During the announcement of the live album's release, the band also announced that they will release a new album sometime in spring 2023.[6] The band went on both headlining tours and supporting tours with American bands Alter Bridge, Mammoth WVH and Pistols at Dawn for January and the majority of February.[7]
On January 24, 2023, they revealed the name of the new album on their Facebook page.[8] In February 2023, the band released a snippet that shows a string recording session for the album.[9] On June 16, the band revealed the album would be released on September 29, 2023, while also stating that the lead single of the album titled "Surrogates" would be available for all streaming services on August 4.[4] The band also announced they embark on the "Rated R Tour", which starts in September and carries on until 2024.[4] On August 4, the band released the single.[10][11][12] On September 1, the band unveiled two singles "Cold World" and "Minus It All".[13][14] On January 9, 2024, an official lyric video for "Cold World" was released on their YouTube Channel.[15]
Critical reception edit
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Album of The Year | 70/100[24] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Jesus Freak Hideout |   [16]  [17] |
| Sputnikmusic | [18] [19] |
| Today's Christian Entertainment | [20]
[21] |
| Cryptic Rock | [22] |
| Melodic Net | [23] |
Rated R received generally favorable reviews from fans and critics, who praised the production, the band's musicianship and concept, however criticism was aimed towards the short runtime and lack of ballads.
Jesus Freak Hideout said of the album, "Rated R is far less controversial than the title implies but fitting in the sense that it is a thoroughly Red album filled with hard-hitting guitar riffs, the unmistakable emotional vocals of Michael Barnes, and an abundance of strings. A step up from the already strong Declaration (but perhaps not quite as ambitious as Of Beauty and Rage), this is a satisfying and evocative entry for the RED catalog."[16] Tyler White for Sputnikmusic said, "While Rated R feels like a stronger return to form following Declaration and Gone, the band still feels like it's reaching for what they've lost from the past. The orchestral elements are back, the production has improved, and Red has brought back their darker side, it doesn't quite meet the same peaks as Innocence & Instinct or Of Beauty and Rage. Nevertheless, this is a step back in the right direction for the band as they bring back the elements and style they were once excelling at."[25]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Surrogates" | Anthony Armstrong, Joe Rickard | 3:00 |
| 2. | "Your Devil Is a Ghost" | A. Armstrong, Lucio Rubino | 3:11 |
| 3. | "Minus It All" | A. Armstrong | 3:24 |
| 4. | "Cold World" | A. Armstrong, Keith Wallen | 3:09 |
| 5. | "Tell Me How to Say Goodbye" | A. Armstrong, Rubino, Jeremy Thomas | 3:49 |
| 6. | "The Suffering" | A. Armstrong, Michael Barnes | 3:29 |
| 7. | "Still Bleeding" | A. Armstrong, Rubino, Barnes | 3:22 |
| 8. | "Our Time Will Come" | A. Armstrong, Wallen | 3:44 |
| 9. | "Last Forever" | A. Armstrong, Rubino, Barnes | 3:20 |
| 10. | "Emergency" | A. Armstrong, Barnes, Jason McArthur | 3:22 |
| Total length: | 33:50 | ||
Personnel edit
Red
- Michael Barnes – lead vocals
- Anthony Armstrong – guitars, backing vocals, additional vocals (2), programming
- Randy Armstrong – bass, backing vocals, piano
- Brian Medeiros – drums
Additional musicians
- Teirney Armstrong – additional vocals (5)
- Elizabeth Lamb – viola
- Monica Angelo – viola
- Carole Rabinowitz – cello
- Paul Nelson – cello
- David Angell – violin
- Karen Winkelmann – violin
- Janet Darnall – violin
- Ali Hoffman – violin
Additional personnel
- Randy Armstrong – executive production
- Anthony Armstrong – production
- Joe Rickard – mixing, additional programming
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- David Davidson – string arrangement, orchestration
- Clayton Blue – drum engineering
- Randy Beasterfield – drum engineering (1)
- Taylor Pollert – string engineering
- Mike Plotnikoff – guitar engineering
- Jay Wud – additional programming
- Lucio Rubino – additional programming, co-production (5)
- Paul DeCarli – digital editing
- Courtney Dellafiora – artwork, design, photography
Charts edit
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[26] | 10 |
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[27] | 98 |
| US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)[28] | 63 |
References edit
- ^ "Red Release New Song "Surrogates"". Indie Vision Music. August 6, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ ""Surrogates" By Red Is Setting Rock Into Full Swing". Glasse Factory. August 14, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "RED RELEASES FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN THREE YEARS, RATED R, SEPT. 29". Jesus Freak Hidout. August 4, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c Our album RATED R is coming out..., retrieved July 12, 2023
- ^ "RED to release live and unplugged version of popular album". RadioU. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ "RED Releases Their First Live Album Today with Another Coming in 2023". JubileeCast. December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "ALTER BRIDGE Announce 2023 North American Tour With Guests MAMMOTH WVH, RED, PISTOLS AT DAWN". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ "RED". Facebook. Red. January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
Our new album "RATED R" COMING SPRING 2023
- ^ Recording strings today for our new album 'RATED R', retrieved July 12, 2023
- ^ "Red releases new single, "Surrogates"". RadioU. August 4, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "RED Releases Surrogates, Lead Single from RATED R Album". Jesus Wired. August 4, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "RED to Release New Album 'Rated R'; Premiere Lead Single "Surrogates"". V13. August 17, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "RED Releases Double Single, 'Cold World' / 'Minus It All' + Announces Headline Tour". CCM Magazine. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "RED Releases Double-Sided Single, "Cold World" / "Minus It All"; Tickets Available Now For RED's Headline Fall "The RATED R Tour"". Sidestage Magazine. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ RED - Cold World (Official Lyric Video), retrieved 2024-02-22
- ^ a b Baldwin, Matt (September 22, 2023). "JFH Staff Review: Red – Rated R". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Smith, Christopher (September 22, 2023). "JFH Staff Review: Red – Rated R". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Ottie, Mateo (September 30, 2023). "Red (USA) - Rated R (album review 2)". Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ White, Tyler (October 11, 2023). "Review: Red (USA) - Rated R - Sputnikmusic". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ Thigpen, Abby (September 28, 2023). "RED 'Rated R'". Today's Christian Entertainment. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ Heilman, Jay (September 29, 2023). "RED 'Rated R'". Today's Christian Entertainment. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ "Red - Rated R (Album Review)". Cryptic Rock. September 29, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Melodic Net Review: Red - Rated R". Melodic Net. October 8, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Red - RATED R - Reviews". Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ Clifgard (September 30, 2024). "Red (USA) - Rated R (album review 3)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Red Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ "Top Album Sales 10-14-2023". Billboard. October 14, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
- ^ "Top Current Album Sales 10-14-2023". Billboard. October 14, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.