Red Hot Rebellion

Single-handedly trying to bring back gritty and gripping hard rock to Dayton Ohio, and all parts worldwide, is Red Hot Rebellion. Self-releasing their debut, this power trio blends classic hard rock with garage and punk rock, and maybe a touch of blues. The sound is stripped down and raw. It bristles with energy and bravado, without comprising sound melody, clever hooks, and edgy fret work.
Essentially, this is bar room 'rawk,' largely developed from the waist down, and neatly packaged in CD, red or clear vinyl, or digital form (and you get a comic book with the first two). Strongest tracks include Wait and See (disgruntled workers unite), Built to Rock (it's not about the band), Devil's Rope (quite catchy, but possibly a tad repetitious), and Cooking With Gas (note the harmonica at the start). Red Hot's debut is solid stuff, good fundamental American hard rock, good for tapping a keg or starting a fight. Recommended. - Craig Hartranft

I came across Red Hot Rebellion while browsing Emusic.com. The album cover caught my attention with the simplicity in its design: Basic black, with their logo in whitish grey, and a subtle splatter of red to give the idea of blood. At only $4.90 to download the entire album, how could I go wrong?
Track 1: “Wait and See”. The opening refrain of the first song sounds more like the end of a song. The Southern rock, blues groove carries through and fits the lyrics well. And with the opening lyric being “I hate my fucking job” that has all the flavors of becoming an anthemistic ringtone. The vocals evoke a Lynyrd Skynyrd feel.

Track 2: “Built to Rock” ZZ Top influence is heavy in the riffs throughout this song. Sex/women is the theme and the story of the lyrics seem to be homage to a lady who frequents open jams in RHR’s local area in Ohio. The mix and arrangement is tight.

Track 3: “For the benefit of evil” Lyrics speak of the NEED not desire but NEED to rock. The vocalist here draws on Glenn Danzig for his delivery. The song’s overall feel is KISS dipped in Southern fried batter deep in a roadhouse kitchen.

Track 4: “Hellfire” This is the song title that got me intrigued, if only to use this track alone in a Chicago Fire dedicated road trip mix. A mild megaphone effect comes across on the vocals here. Guitar solo after the first chorus is standard fare. The bass, however, is rich, sounding finger plucked and not picked. I could see this song on a mix tape (well, CD or playlist) as one drives, speeding down a highway with the wind in their hair.

Track 5: “I’m coming over” This is a stalker quality song even though the title implies just a booty call. ZZ Top’s down and dirty metaphor and style influence is the strongest in this track more than any of the others, right down to the “Big bad wolf” and “Little red riding hood” imagery.

Track 6: “Wild One” Another good driving beat song with a KISS feel and grittier vocals.

Track 7: “Devil’s Rope” This could be a walk out song for an UFC/MMA/WEC fighter. Rolling riffs back extra gravel in the voice.

Track 8: “Cooking with Gas” The only track that uses the mouth organ, but only in the intro. Anger and stress come through in the lyrics. Working it out – but not necessarily in a healthy way – with “gonna be an ass-whoopin’ tonight” repeated in the chorus.

Track 9: “Open Wide and Say Awesome” Cliche rock riff intro that evokes a bar band song, especially one played late in the set. “Drink, fuck, fight” pretty much says it all.

Track 10: “Two Fisting” This is definitely the fitting final track as it evokes the end of a gig song played to drunks by drunks. Even this recording comes across as sloppier than the other nine tracks.

Overall final thoughts: As we progress through the album sequentially, the dirtiness and grittiness in the theme of the songs gets worse, less happy. The mix is well balanced and professional, especially for a self-release. RHR seem to me a bar band who are looking for a more regional reach, but I don’t see them coming up as the next ZZ Top or Lynyrd Skynyrd. Would I see them live if they rolled through my hood? I would certainly try to make it out. Was it worth what I paid for it? Yes. Would I play it again? Yes. - Kirsten Tautfest

As I glanced over the transparent red vinyl that contained the self titled album from rock band Red Hot Rebellion, I couldn’t help but smile. The phrase, “The Soundtrack To A Bar Fight” is scrawled on the inside label like a mission statement for the entire collection of songs. Couple that with the comic book that came with the record, which at one point reads, “Drink, Fuck, Fight, It’s Gonna Be A Riot,” and you know one thing prior to even putting the needle to the vinyl: This is gonna be fun.

And that “fun” quality to Red Hot Rebellion’s music is certainly needed. Because despite the fact that nothing too groundbreaking occurs, I still couldn’t help myself from singing along on my third or fourth listen. And for a band that really exemplifies the old school rock and roll spirit, someone singing along to their music should come as the highest compliment.

The band kicks off their self-titled effort with “Wait and See,” which truly sets the tone early. Along with establishing the basic rock band setup (drum, two guitars, vocals), the track also sets a lyrical tone of pure anger, as Jim Tramontana sings “My fucking job, its got me by the balls.” The chorus tells his superiors to “Just wait and see” as the character in the song knows he’s destined for something bigger than where he currently sits at in life.

“For The Benefit Of Evil” continues the gloomy tone, as they sing “It’s better to die behind a guitar than die behind a gun.” Mentions of the devil and “evil feelings” continue to establish this theme of good against evil, or in this case, these rockers against the constraints of society.

“Open Wide and Say Awesome” contains some of the best guitar work on the album and a chorus that demands to be heard at a concert as it contains the “Drink, Fuck, Fight” gang vocals I referenced in the comic. The rest of the lyrical work is again as dark as can be, with mentions of burning objects down and just fire in general. You almost wish the guys would have thrown a lighter song into the bunch, but you have to commend them for sticking to the tone throughout.

“Wild One” is the standout track on the album, though. As I listened to the guitars and general melody of the song, I could really see the track coming through my speakers on the local rock-radio station. By just increasing the tempo by a little bit and with a little more production value, the track could have massive potential for the independent band. And on vinyl, you can really hear the power behind the chorus. It was the first time on the album that I could hear the improved sound quality.

As described before, the package for the record is an interesting one, with a comic book doubling as the partial lyric sheet for the album. As you flip through the pages, you can see exactly what kind of story the guys were going for when working on the lyrics for the record. And you can also see exactly what kind of aspirations the guys have. Whether it’s playing at a club named after them or the moment when they get on stage and look out at the sold out crowd, these guys obviously have big dreams. And if they continue on this path, they just might be able to reach them.

You can pick up the album, here, on transparent red vinyl, and in bundle packages. The packages include a CD and a T-shirt. You can also stream the album, here. - Modern Vinyl