Friendship is a binding thing. Friends share each others’ good times and bad times, helping and supporting one another through it all. The band Carbon Red is living proof of the power of friendship and how it can bring people together to make something happen. Their latest release, “The Tree,” is proof and has more than a few tracks that might make your ears perk up.
“Remember The Times” is one such track. The echoing guitar leads you into the track. The cradling bass gives the airy guitars a grounding depth, with understated percussion that lets the vocals and guitars take the reigns. When it all comes together, it creates a contemplative aesthetic with a distinctly old school rock approach. The introspective lyrics only add to this aesthetic. Lines such as “every time I look back on the roads, I bend down, I see myself. I’m still standin’ here. Doin’ better than ever before” and “when life was easier and worry free, all of our actions were simply without direction constantly” illustrate the introspective elements of the track perfectly. “Remember The Time” is an enchanting and attention-grabbing track that’s full of heart.
“Fire No More” is a track that brings the heat. The graceful piano keys are quickly hit in the face with heavy guitars and slammin’ drums. It doesn’t take long for the groove rock track to catch its stride. The shredding guitars are backed up by a bumping bassline that gives a bounce to the track that softens its edge, which feels especially effective at letting the guitars shred with a carefree attitude. Surprisingly, the drums enter the track with a big splash but seem to take a backseat for the rest of the track, allowing the guitars and powerful distorted vocals to dominate the sound. “Fire No More” is an explosive wake-up call on the album that brings an explosion of energy right when it was needed the most.
Title track “The Tree” is another stand-out. The serene piano leads the listener in with an ethereal allure that’s hard to not get lost in. The heavy strums of the guitar give the perfect weight to the lyrical content, with a vocal performance that matches with it just as well. The vocals are incredibly powerful, with lines such as “stretching out to the beckoning sky, I sense the seasons and those who cry. My deep connection is the earth. I know my source, my point of birth” hitting hard when you hear them, especially when backed up by the powerful percussion that comes right after it. “The Tree” is an incredibly engaging and moving track that grows on you even more on subsequent listens.
“The Person I Call Me” is one you won’t want to miss. From the top, the high energy of the track is palpable. The busy pianos cut off by some clever popping percussion gives way to a hard-rockin and powerful track. Once the guitar starts shredding, it never stops. Even when the track slows down everywhere else, the guitars keep wailing to keep the pulse of the song. The drums are powerful in this track, rising to the occasion whenever it needs to. The powerful and emotional vocals are enchanting, with lines such as “in my life the perfect place is here, where I want to be. Life has been good to me, and I wouldn’t change a thing” leaving the listener with a strong feeling of inspirational power. “The Person I Call Me” is an incredibly powerful track with some addictive riffs and lyrics that celebrate the beauty of friendship and the changing nature of life.
Carbon Red’s album “The Tree” is full of heart. From the top, you can tell that this album is a labor of love between friends. “Life of a Pirate” may be an offbeat start, but other stand-out tracks such as “Enki” and “Fire No More,” allow the hard rock influences to shine through. These tracks also do nothing to diminish the emotional power of others, such as “The Tree” and “The Person I Call Me,” allow their emotional and heavy-hearted cores to fit in without seeming out of place. While every track may not have a strong impact and may not be for everyone, those that do stand out make “The Tree” worth the listen.
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