·December 21, 2023·2 min read

“Like A Loaded Gun”, by Red Mountain Revolt: Hard rock goodness!

Originating from north central New Jersey, Red Mountain Revolt began as a conceptual collaboration between Christian Nevi and Kyle Merritts. Despite attending different high schools, their shared passion for hard rock, grunge, and alternative music genres, influenced by bands like Alice In Chains, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd, fueled their desire to create a band. In the later years of high school, Christian (handling drums and guitar) and Kyle (managing bass, keyboard, and production) reconnected, giving rise to the formation of Red Mountain Revolt. Keep reading for my thoughts on their latest album, “Like A Loaded Gun”!

The opener, “I’ve Tried”, is an angry, rhythmically delicious track that beautifully embodies the elements of hard rock, while blending some elements of classic rock-and-roll, bringing the sound of Jersey right to your headphones. This is a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience, and sets the stage rather well for what is to come of this album. “Dysfunctional”, the second track on the album, is a lot more downtempo and balladlike, and puts into perspective the storytelling chops that the house of Red Mountain Revolt can bring to the table– and I’m left impressed, no lie!

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“Shades Of You” immediately takes the rock element on “Like A Loaded Gun” and turns it up to 11, with the more hardcore drumming techniques and a focus on the riffage and the rhythms that come together quite beautifully to weave a high-energy rock number that finds itself thoroughly enjoyable. There is much about this song, especially the interlude and the solo towards the middle, that terminates in a satisfying break; and we’re pulled straight back in for the remainder of the song, which is an equally rewarding experience as the first half of the track.

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At this point, it is of note that the themes through “Like A Loaded Gun” stay consistent and cohesive, and come together rather nicely to yield a thematic progression that finds itself coherent to the listener at all times, and that is something I quite loved through the album.

Some other special mentions from the album include the powerful “Fall Through”, with its darker emotional undertones that come together to tell a nice and compelling story with the instruments; “Bury Me” with its similarly darker and more ominous undertones that I personally am a big fan of, and the closer, “Her Song”.

The production remains a rather well-executed punk/hard rock/rock and roll affair with great riffage and percussion all bound together with a mix and master that makes the album a cohesive listen, with smart use of the soundstage and sweet panning that is best enjoyed with a pair of headphones. “Like A Loaded Gun” by Red Mountain Revolt is available here!