ROBERT JON & THE WRECK: Red Moon Rising (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

By the time “Ride Into The Light” had worn itself out on our turntables, Robert Jon & The Wreck had already released a new single with the title 'Stone Cold Killer'. While we had already noted the Orange County quintet's hyperactivity, its members seem to have decided to step up their compositional pace even further. So, just ten months after its predecessor, “Red Moon Rising” is marked by two important elements. The first is the line-up change represented by the arrival of Jake Abernathie on keyboards in place of Steve Maggiora. The second sees Kevin Shirley take charge of all production, confirming Joe Bonamassa's confidence in his protégés.

As far as the content of this opus is concerned, the Californians continue a tradition of varying their stylistic approaches while maintaining the coherence of a personality that is now instantly recognizable. However, the start of the opus is surprisingly darker than usual. In fact, the subject of the wounds that can result from relationships recurs on several tracks, suggesting that Robert Jon has recently had a run-in with the ladies. Stone Cold Killer' and 'Trouble' open the hostilities with a hint of anger. The former is raw and hard-hitting, with a slide solo reminiscent of the late Pete Wells (Rose Tattoo). As for the second, its hammered chorus is balanced by a groove that will be heard throughout the album.

The moving, haunting and aptly named 'Ballad Of A Broken Hearted Man', and 'Dragging Me Down', with its thick, twisting riff in a very 70's mood, reinforce a twilight atmosphere that is happily torn apart on several occasions. The devilishly funky eponymous track, with its unifying backing vocals, and 'Hold On', with its Black Crows-like vibe, are great bursts of positive energy that eventually take over, despite the introspective and contemplative 'Worried Mind'. Guitar harmonies evoke the spirit of the Allman Brothers Band ('Down No More', 'Hate To See You Go'), while the rhythm section unleashes its groove on 'Help Yourself' and 'Give Love' to take the album into brighter territory. We'd also like to mention the raging, explosive 'Rager', whose fearsome final acceleration and unstoppable duel between guitars and keyboards trigger a few jerky neck movements.

Red Moon Rising” is another master stroke for Robert Jon & The Wreck, even if it is a little darker than its predecessors. Nevertheless, this melancholy, more pervasive than usual, does not call into question a variety of stylistic approaches that once again captivate listeners to the point of making them addicted to the Californians' music. It now remains to be seen whether the quintet will manage to maintain its pace without the quality of its work eventually suffering. For the moment, there's nothing to worry about, and this new opus is a new treasure to be savored without reserve. - Official website

ROBERT JON & THE WRECK

RED MOON RISING

JOURNEYMAN RECORDS

ROCK