Red Line Chemistry – Dying For A Living
When I think of Kansas City, Missouri the first things that come to mind are the lowly, downtrodden MLB farm system known as the Kansas City Royals, the Kansas City Chiefs (sporting some of the ugliest ketchup and mustard uniforms in the NFL – just sayin’) and the home of that horribly frightening musical atrocity known as David Cook (yes, the American Idol winner). Well Kansas City, hold your head high because those dark days may soon be behind you with the ray of light known as Red Line Chemistry. This impressive quintet have just released their new album titled Dying For A Living to the heavy rock and radio metal masses.
Dying For A Living‘s opener “Vicious Cycles” serves as a perfect introduction to Red Line Chemistry. After a dark, airy and atmospheric intro, the band kicks you square in the teeth with ripping guitars, punchy bass and completely rockin’ drums. Red Line Chemistry have a very cool and unique sound that meshes the styles of Alice In Chains, Seether, Stone Temple Pilots (Core-era), Metallica (Load and Re-load-era) and Puddle Of Mudd all together, while still having their own identity. Vocalist Brett Ditgen is an absolute vocal beast with a fantastic range that fits the band’s charismatic style perfectly. Ditgen’s vox are clean and smooth yet still have enough grit to garner some blood in the pit. Fusing the talents of Dax Riggs (Acid Bath, Agents Of Oblivion, etc.), both Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains) and Layne Staley (Alice In Chains) at the same time, Wes Scantlin (Puddle Of Mudd) and Joey Duenas (Unloco), Ditgen still finds his own and really commands each and every song.
For me, some of the real standouts on the album are “Knock Down Drag Out”, “Dumb Luck”, “Fire Rising”, “Deja Vu” and “Plastic Masquerade” (among others). “Knock Down Drag Out” features torrid Priestess style riffs courtesy of axemen Andy Breit and Dave Fyten. Ditgen’s vocals are super slick as he tears through the verses, then hits the mammoth choruses faultlessly. The albums first single and video is for “Dumb Luck” and what a great track it is. Red Line Chemistry really channel both Alice In Chains and Puddle Of Mudd not only musically but vocally as well on this one. Lyrically, it’s a dreary song that really captivates the listeners attention with every line. From the first note of “Fire Rising”, I immediately thought of Metallica and their dark, brooding style on both the Load and Re-load albums. It’s a really cool track that is loaded with deep rooted emotion and a hope for better tomorrow. “Deja Vu” is straight up and stripped down rock at its very best. Puddle Of Mudd-esque guitar chops, Tom Brown’s booming bass and Mike Mazzarese’s intricate skins work make for an extremely easy and entertaining listen for anyone who likes to just kick back, relax and totally rock out. After a short interlude, “Plastic Masquerade” kicks in with choppy melodic six strings, thumping bass lines and ultra bleak lyrics about people who had it all, just to lose it due to their own stupidity and misfortune.
Dying For A Living does have a few songs that left me scratching my head to say the least. “Johnny Come Alive” is a strange mix of Motley Crue and some honky tonkin’, good old boy country music. After listening to this album enough to make my ears bleed, I still get to this song and just simply think, “Um…okay?” “Greed” is actually a pretty good song at its core, but once again caught me a tad off guard. It’s loaded with Buckcherry meets Papa Roach (Metamorphosis-era) style riffs and big sing along choruses, but with the pacing of the record, it would’ve seemed a much better fit somewhere in the middle of the album. Now we get to the mother of all extremely out of place songs titled “Ultragigantor.” All in all, it’s a cool song that is filled to the brim with Gravity Kills and The Hunger-style danceable beats, raging guitar blasts and interesting vocal work. For what it is, it’s a killer track…but talk about the elephant in the room. Wow!
Besides a few small things, I can’t say anything really negative about this album. If you’re into well crafted, guitar driven and extremely ear catching songs that will reverberate in your cranium for months on end, then you’ve found what you’re looking for. Red Line Chemistry’s debut Dying For A Living is nothing short of a fantastic piece of in-your-face rock mastery.
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30 Comments
August 18th, 2010 at 7:13 am
Lee, the opening line on this review was hilarious. Being a fan of Puddle of Mudd and Alice In Chains, this cd sounds like something that I will love. Headed over to Amazon right now to pick it up. Thanks
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August 18th, 2010 at 7:15 am
Be-Jebus I hate Puddle Of Mudd. That has to be one of the worst bands ever. Based on your review and the samples, I am going to check this out anyway.
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zerosignal replied:
August 18th, 2010 at 7:16 am
Steve I hate POM myself, but like you said this does sound promising. Good job Lee
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August 18th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Sounds pretty boring,bleh.
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Lee replied:
August 18th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Hey Marcos,
Yea man, it's not going to be for people who are into really heavy stuff. But for me its cool sometimes to sit back and chill out to good solid rock songs that have no blast beats, off time signatures or growling.
Take care and thanks for commenting
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August 18th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
It won't appeal to young metalheads who live and breathe deathcore, but for those of us who appreciate Alice in Chains, etc, it is actually pretty good. I dig it.
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August 18th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
The singer really DOES sound like a mix of Layne Staley and Wes Scantlin. Wow…
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Lee replied:
August 18th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Yea he really does….
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Jen replied:
August 18th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
I think that's why I kinda like it. I have an affinity for Layne's vocals.
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Nitrohippie replied:
August 19th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I can't say that I like it unfortunately. Too generic for me. The vocalist has a cool tone to his voice, but I think a band needs more than that. Layne Staley had Jerry Cantrell, but unfortunately it doesn't sound like the vocalist of RLC has anyone like that to work off of. And as for Wes Scantlin… ugh, I hate Puddle of Mud, hehe.
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Lee replied:
August 19th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
That's totally cool man, to each is own. Personally, I think they have a ton going for them. Their songwriting is top notch and the songs come off super catchy and very memorable….at least to me. LOL! But you're right, this album won't be for everyone.
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Nitrohippie replied:
August 20th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
It does have plenty of mainstream qualities, but that's not always a good thing for me. RLC just doesn't stick out for me. That's all. So, I think I'm in the "this album's not for me" category. Hehe, no biggie. It is a first album, though. Plenty of time for improvement I would think.
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August 19th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
I have to agree with the reviewer on this one. I usually do not go for this style of music, but this cd does have a certain charm to it. Nitrohippie you are right in saying it's generic, but they do write very catchy songs. I love the site by the way.
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Lee replied:
August 19th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Awesome and thanks!
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August 19th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
"Dumb Luck" sounds really good. I am digging the hint of grunge in their delivery. Loved the review.
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August 20th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
RLC is ROCKING it out for K.C.!!!! Great review for some great guys and great band!
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August 21st, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Sorry, but the moment you said David Cook was an atrocity I stopped reading…Considering his Axium albums, his Analog Heart indie album and the fact that his major label debut album went platinum he is THE best artist I have heard in the last 20 years. His vocal ability alone is amazing let alone his songwriting skills and he absolutely puts on an amazing rock show. This is coming from someone who grew up in the 80s. My first concert was Iron Maiden…
These guys don't really bring anything different and the singing is just okay…I won't be buying their album.
Forget that David was an American Idol and appreciate him for what he brings to the table. His sophomore album will be coming out soon and from what I heard so far it is going to be pretty amazing. I also suggest you go see him live as he will probably surprise you…in a good way. I also suggest listening to his Axium album – The Story Thus Far…it is really, really good…it is on youtube and other various sites for download.
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Matt replied:
August 21st, 2010 at 12:30 pm
DUDE, you CANNOT be serious?!? Why the hell are you on a metal site talking about David Cook?
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Lee replied:
August 21st, 2010 at 2:04 pm
What's up Sam?
Too bad you stopped reading after that. You missed out on a very good band as well as a pretty nice review (if I do say so myself).
That is totally cool if you like David Cook, no problems here. I have heard both his Analog Heart and self-titled debut a number of times and it still does nothing for me…sorry. I wouldn't put too much stock in the fact that his American Idol debut went platinum, because ALL the winners' (and even some of the losers') albums go platinum. Do you think that American Idol would let an "artist" that wins the show sell less than a million copies? Boy, talk about some serious egg on their faces. LOL!
As far as RLC not bringing anything new to the table, maybe you're right. But how can you say that David Cook set any standards in his proverbial genre either? He is a product of what they want him to be, simple as that. I believe it was better for a guy like Chris Daughtry to have lost because it gave him the freedom to do what he wanted and it showed.
In the end, whether generic or not, it's all about the songs and the songwriting. If you write good ear catching tunes, then generic shouldn't matter. If not, then you'll just find yourself thrown into the clearance dollar bin at the local cd warehouse.
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LayneStaley replied:
August 21st, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Woah. Wait. Hate to butt in. But it's the internet. Isn't that the point. I can't take your argument seriously. When you hold up Chris Daughtry as someone that should be emulated or impressed by I just have to laugh. He is the personification of generic. He is corporate rock. He had a band assembled for him by the label.
I really liked your review on RLC. It sounds like they put together a greatly produced record. I like the sound of Knock Down Drag Out. The lead singer seems to have a cool voice. But N-O to the Layne Staley comparison. Dude was an original. And the lead singer doesn't have as much passion or grit behind his vocals as I like in metal. For my money Keith Buckley from ETID and James Hart from Burn Halo have more exciting interesting voices.
As for David Cook. Ehh. Dude has a prime voice and some talent, but I don't think he knows what to do. Debut CD is generic city. A few glimpses here and there of interesting things but nothing fully realized. Never heard his band Axium. Couldn't care less. I do respect that he brought people he knew before Idol into the studio and on the road.
Great website. I will be back for more reviews.
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Jen replied:
August 21st, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Thanks for commenting, Layne.
I honestly don't care one bit about any of the American Idol crap. The whole David Cook mention in the review was a joke anyway.
But what I will address is where you said Layne "was an original". I find it interesting you use the word "was"…meaning to me that he was original at the time. PLENTY of vocalists have emulated Layne since AiC. Doesn't matter if they are as good or not. Obviously no one can sing like Layne as well as HE could. But I will agree one million percent that the vocalist of RLC has a very "Layne" quality about his voice. I can say that because I've heard the entire album. And Layne is one of my favorite singers of all time.
Would you also say that William Duvall sounds nothing like Layne? Just curious. Healthy discussion. No disrespect meant.
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Lee replied:
August 21st, 2010 at 4:44 pm
First off LayneStaley, thanks for the compliment on the site…very cool!
I never said that Chris Daughtry was not generic and/or should be emulated. I merely said that by him NOT winning AI, he had the freedom to write and record the album that HE wanted. He wasn't pigeonholed into making an album that AI was proud of and knew they could instantly sell…that is all.
As far as Brett's vocals, there is absolutely hints of Layne in his voice. Like Jennifer said, just because someone is an "original", does not mean they cannot be emulated during their career or after they are long gone. Sorry, but it's just the way it is.
Thanks again…
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August 21st, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Oh I see what you are saying. I guess I didn't mean you can't compare the two voices. Because yes, he does have a certain quality to his voice and the way he sings that is remineciant of Layne. And he is not a bad singer by any stretch of the imagination.
I will definitely check out RLC. Hopefully I will be able to check them out live. That is always the real test for me.
Lee, I respectfully disagree. I don't think not winning Idol makes Daughtry some kind of outsider. Pretty sure he is managed by the people who produce idol. And he worked with pretty mainstream collaborators. I mean mainstream for corporate rock. He opened for Nickleback. Nothing really outside of the box if you ask me. I don't see a big difference between Daughtry's and Cook's debut albums. Very similar in style and tone if you ask me. One is not better than the other. Although I give Cook a slight edge for working with Zac Maloy from The Nixon's. HaHa another singer who sounds like Layne Staley.
Funny enough, by accident I happened to see David Cook perform at an Acoustic radio Christmas show. He was a last minute addition to the line up. And weird enough he played Man In The Box & Temple of the Dog's Hunger Strike. He has great influences but he made a generic record. Unlike you I think he has promise and I feel bad he is stuck with the idol stigma.
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August 21st, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Once again, I said nothing about being "outside of the box." I said that he was/is corporate rock, but Daughtry's career has and will continue to go north, while I believe Cook's will continue to stay horizontal. The problem that I have with Cook is that while very talented, his label, writers, producers and PR have no idea how to market him. With Daughtry, they can push him to modern rock radio (hence the Nickelback tour. It's not about being outside of the box, it's about selling loads of records. PERIOD. And being in front of a Nickelback audience every single night does not hurt that) and its audience. As far as an edge, there is no way I would give the edge to Cook. Daughtry has worked with everyone from Ed Kowalczyk (Live) and Chad Kroeger (Nickelback) to Adam Gontier (Three Days Grace) and Brent Smith (Shinedown) among others. No offense to The Nixons (who I loved), but every single one of those bands mentioned are 10 times bigger than they ever were. Also enlisting bad ass producer Howard Benson (10 Years, P.O.D, Disturbed, Creed, Hoobastank, My Chemical Romance, etc.) never hurts either.
There's also a major difference between Daughtry's and Cook's debut…about 3 million more records sold for Daughtry (and that's just his debut, not counting the follow up).
When it comes to style, there is not comparison either. One is mainstream rock that has a slight edge and the other is your standard run of the mill radio rock sound. Both are terribly formulated, but one is definitely more appealing that the other, and it shows it sales and popularity alone.
You know how it is, everyone has an opinion and that's totally cool. You like Cook and I don't. No harm in that at all. Besides, it's all about RLC anyway, and simply put…these dudes ROCK!
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August 29th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
I saw gravity kills, alice in chains and stone temple pilots and was excited, then I saw Buckcherry and puddle of mudd – then I was confused… only for a moment because then I played the samples and got exactly what happens when you mix Awesome with Shit – boring, radio ready, mediocre …ehh stuff. The history and well educated review is well respected – I think you may be off point on this one though – I mean…a 4? Just by looking at the review and what you've been comparing it to should knock it way down in terms of what it brings to the table: original? no – progressive in its genre? no. generic and marketable? yes. If there are reviews that deserve anything above 3, they should at least meet two of those attributes. It's all opinion of course, but – after this one, I really gotta taker a closer look at your review before I go downloading. Aside from that though – I've found yours and Ryan's reviews to be a pretty good litmus test for checking out new stuff – mainly cuz I know your personalities and can sort out the feelings – i think it would awesome if you could have a second opinion section where you or ryan or whoever could offer another opinion to compliment the review (see Game Informers Reviews).
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Lee replied:
August 30th, 2010 at 12:22 am
Hey Brian, what's up?
First off, thanks for the kind words on the review…very much appreciated. I do have to disagree with you on one thing though.
Just because something isn't original does not mean it cannot be good or well put together. I agree that RLC is not the most original band in the world, but with that being said, they do write very good/solid songs. When reviewing albums, you can't automatically lower a score (at least for me) just because something is not original, groundbreaking or progressing their particular genre. That seems really unfair don't you think? If we based reviews solely on originality, I'm more that sure that there would be a LOT more low scores than high (in all genres). You have to look at the songwriting, which in all honesty is THE most important thing. As far as being different…being different isn't always a good thing. See our review of THE BODY. HA HA! Sometimes originality isn't all it's cracked up to be. LOL! If this one review changes your opinion on my "skills" that's okay. I know that people will disagree with me and that is totally cool. I look at it this way, as long as the bands we feature get a look (and hopefully some a second and possibly a third) that is all that matters.
By the way, we are working on some cool new features as we speak…stay tuned.
And as always, thanks for the comment!
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January 3rd, 2011 at 11:10 pm
Yeah. Kansas City also has the one and only TECH N9NE… if you're ever inclined to venture to that side of the musical stratosphere.
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Lee Rochester replied:
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Ha Ha Ha. Get my gangsta on!
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April 2nd, 2011 at 10:29 am
I was already listening to these guys before I read this review, but AIC and POM are definitely in there. I love AIC. They along with POM are one of my face grunge bands because I was raised on that stuff along with Motley and Metallica, but I do listen to Whitechapel, and really heavy stuff like that. I listen to some rap and hip-hop but mostly old school Snoop and Dre type stuff. This review was spot on. And people would be surprised what this person from "the younger generation" listens too. I listen to Elvis, Buddy Holly, all the way to Tech N9ne to Whitchapel, to the rest of the musical genres. Great review broski.
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Lee replied:
April 2nd, 2011 at 11:34 am
Thanks for stopping by and giving the review a read D. Evil, I really appreciate it man. If you get a chance, take a look around and see what else you might find.
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