Description

Of Beauty and Rage is the fifth studio album from the American symphonic metal band RED, released on Essential Records in February 2015. The album was produced by Rob Graves. Of Beauty and Rage debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at No. 14 with first week sales of over 34,000.

RED is Michael Barnes on vocals, Anthony Armstrong on guitars (as well providing programming), and Randy Armstrong on bass, piano, and vocals. Drums played by Dan Johnson (who filled in for drummer Joe Rickard, who had left the group to join Manafest).

Of this, the fifth studio album from the Nashville-based CCM hitmakers, the critics have been well and truly divided. But then the same thing happened to Red’s ‘Release The Panic’ album with one reviewer declaring it a classic and another saying succinctly “it sucked.” Its intensity and sense of the epic make ‘Of Beauty And Rage’ seem like a return to their 2006 equally intense debut ‘End Of Silence’ and although some fans will be irritated by the film score-like instrumental «Descent», a track like «Imposter» reaches for the heights in an orchestral, bombastic climax. Singer Michael Barnes has got back the fire and energy he seemed to momentarily lose on their last release while producer Rob Graves brings dramatic flourishes continually to the fore. With its peaks and troughs ‘Of Beauty And Rage’ is an album you need to listen to from start to finish at full volume. But on balance, I would agree with a reviewer who claims that this is Red’s best project to date. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, August 2015]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/of-beauty-and-rage/961259509)

CD tracklist:

01. Descent – 1:11
02. Impostor – 4:18
03. Shadow and Soul – 5:44
04. Darkest Part – 4:02
05. Fight To Forget – 3:28
06. Of These Chains – 3:53
07. Falling Sky – 5:26
08. The Forest – 0:55
09. Yours Again – 4:49
10. What You Keep Alive – 5:22
11. Gravity Lies – 4:33
12. Take Me Over – 3:51
13. The Ever – 4:10
14. Part That’s Holding On – 4:45
15. Ascent – 3:58

“Darkest Part” (MUSIC VIDEO)