Red Chord, The - 'Fed Through The Teeth Machine'

Taking a step back was the right call for The Red Chord, as Fed Through The Teeth Machine is a culmination of everything the band has done to date.

After the ambitious direction of 2007’s Prey For Eyes, The Red Chord takes a more streamlined approach with Fed Through The Teeth Machine. Gone are the multiple guest musicians, keyboard-heavy instrumental and extended intros/outros. Instead, there is an emphasis on brutal grind/death, shorter song lengths, and a tighter cohesion between the band members.

The Red Chord cranks out twelve tracks that blur the line between grind, deathcore, and death metal. The album oozes intensity, as every second seems more frantic than the next. Short two to three minute bursts of aggression are commonplace, as “Face Area Solution” and “Tales Of Martyrs And Disappearing Acts” leave an impression equivalent to a 2X4 to the side of the head. This single-minded outlook benefits the band, as they stay focused on creating a sonic melee.

There are plenty of blast beats, growls, and blazing riffs to go around, but what makes the band so noteworthy is their ability to incorporate melodic elements with relative ease. A song like “Ingest The Ash” starts out hard-hitting, but then throw in a brief lead from guitarist Mike McKenzie, before continuing with the psychotic madness. “Mouthful Of Precious Stones” and “Sleepless Nights In The Compound” are mid-paced numbers that help to give breathing room to the album’s chaotic infrastructure.

On Fed Through The Teeth Machine, McKenzie goes at it alone on the guitar, putting in the performance of his young career. Accompanying him is the strong rhythm section of bassist Greg Weeks and drummer Brad Fickeisen. They both compliment McKenzie perfectly and give guidance to what could have turned into nothing more than random bursts of noise. Guy Kozowyk delivers the same supply of powerful screams and growls that he has been using since the band’s early days.

After four albums, The Red Chord has hit their peak with Fed Through The Teeth Machine. The songwriting is strong and the band has finally found their creative stride. The only knock against the album is the tendency for the songs to blend together in the middle portion, but the band recovers for an explosive conclusion. Trimming the excess fat off of Prey For Eyes and sticking to what brought them to the upper tier of the grind/death scene was the smartest move the band could possibly make.