The Color Red

Hailing from Riverside, Calif., The Color Red’s debut album “Below the Under” is already making waves with a sound that can be described as a beefed-up form of alternative rock.

The carnage begins with the track “Dangerous,” one of many songs with creative, killer guitar lines.

From front to back, not one track assumes the role of filler-mode music.

The lead guitar work is split between two men: Billy Meyer and Adrian Verloop. The two work well together to produce a driving sound that when cranked to 11 will have rock fans the world over wondering “Who the hell are these guys?”

The answer to that question: a band that has done a few shows with the likes of Korn and 311. The guitar lines and riffs are of a supreme quality. But before you go running to the nearest record store, realize that the supreme-quality sound ends with the bass and lead guitars.

Jon Zamora’s vocals come off as bland., kind of a Dexter from The Offspring tone. But where Dexter is able to make his mundane voice work with the band’s sound, Zamora maintains the same monotonous voice; outside of a few angst-filled screams. Song after song, the voice leading the way doesn’t seem to match the intensity of sound.

There is one exception, however. “So cool” is a ballad of hard rock, much like the Guns ‘n’ Roses phenomenon “Sweet Child of Mine.” Once again a great guitar line is this time matched by Zamora’s apathetic voice. With Zamora’s tone as is, The Color Red seems to be in its element in “So Cool.”

“Below the Under” has the ability to grow on a listener. Rock-tuned ears cannot stave off the rich, driving rhythms that assault the senses. But all this is canceled out if Zamora doesn’t change his ways. It could lead listeners to think “Cool band, but it sounds like everything else.” If nothing changes, the band will be doomed to appearing on soundtracks of the latest teen movie, where it becomes difficult to differentiate between the latest “up-and-comers.”

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Paul Kix

Rating based on a ***** scale.