Innocence & Instinct

Description

Innocence & Instinct is the sophomore album from the American symphonic metal band RED, released on Essential Records in February 2009, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, distributed by Provident Integrity Distribution. The album was recorded during 2008 at Paragon Studios and The Graveyard in Franklin and at Little Big Sound i Nahsville, Tennessee; with Rob Graves producing.

In 2010, the album won a Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 41th GMA Dove Awards. It was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album at the 52th Grammy Awards.

Receiving a Grammy nomination for your debut album sets a high standard to follow. Fortunately for the Nashville rockers, their second release manages to live up to expectations. A strong and emotive collection, the songs provide hook-laden anthems that sit comfortably in today’s market. Dealing with the same kind of inner demons that plagued them in their debut, Red have achieved success with singles from the album. Lead single «Fight Inside» debuted at number one in the Radio and Records Christian Rock chart, while the latest, «Death Of Me», reached number 34 in the American mainstream charts. Their sound remains similar to bands such as Kutless and Day Of Fire, but there seems to be more feeling in Red’s songs despite the highly polished production taking an edge off the music almost to the point of being overproduced. The singles are amongst the strongest songs on the album. «Confessions» tries to be different but falls somewhat flat, and their cover of Duran Duran’s «Ordinary World» is interesting but too generic: there is no imprinting of their own sound, just a straight note for note playthrough. Despite this, ‘Innocence And Instinct’ is a powerful album which should appeal to fans of anthemic, emotionally fuelled rock. [Graeme Crawford, Cross Rhythms, March 2009]

Innocence & Instinct Deluxe Edition, CD+DVD 2009

The Grammy-nominated band followed up their successful ‘End Of Silence’ with this release last year and like its predecessor their label released it in two versions. Like the standard version this release shows that Red are expert purveyors of edgy, hook-filled rock. If ever Romans chapter seven in the Bible was themed and anthemed on a record, this is it. The four guys in the band air their struggle of life and faith through powerful cuts like «Fight Inside» and «Death Of Me». The video for «Death Of Me» on the DVD is one of the best Christian videos of 2009. Award-winning producer and songwriter Rob Graves and mixer Ben Grosse (Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Fuel) were brought in and they have helped produce a great album. A haunting, sometimes dark and ethereal tone seeps through the songs but always with portholes of hope. Red are well read lacing their songs with Dante influences from Divine Comedy and Inferno amongst others. Covering Duran Duran’s «Ordinary World» was a surprise, but a nice one. [Steven Bridge, Cross Rhythms, February 2010]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/innocence-and-instinct-10-year-anniversary-deluxe-edition/1478777278)

CD tracklist:

01. Fight Inside
02. Death Of Me
03. Mystery Of You
04. Start Again
05. Never Be The Same
06. Confession (What’s Inside My Head)
07. Shadows
08. Ordinary World
09. Out From Under
10. Take It All Away