RED "Until We Have Faces"

In 2009, This band had used their "Innocence and Instinct" to create a powerful album of the same name. It  not only started with the one two punch of the "Fight Inside" that may be the "Death of Me," which were both  addictive, and singles, but also were part of a record that I had connected with for a long period of time, still do, but don't listen to it as much. Why? Because the record is about the struggle between good and evil, the conscience and the urges, and a battle that is literally all in your head.It also had a song that brought Benjamin Burley out of the shadows, their cover of ordinary world by Duran Duran, and the mystery of you still eludes me like a car chase; the whole record as solid. The first track starts off raw with some slight industrial tendencies and is about becoming yourself; to never give up instead of becoming a cog, and to not 'Feed The Machine,' but to destroy it.Very Strong start indeed!  The next track returns to the symphonic angst that they had perfected over the few records, that peaks at the last minute, with a song about losing your identity and feeling 'Faceless.' "One more monster crawled inside/But I swear I saw it die." Were those words fake? 'Lie To Me (Denial)' is another good song I like, but nothing truly distinctive.The lyrics are those of lies we may tell ourselves to fall asleep, or possibly how we start to believe things about ourselves that are not true, but at that time they seem unshakable. The next song is hauntingly beautiful, I love it! 'Let It Burn' finishes nicely with an dreamy symphonic passage with female vocals in assistance. I feel 'Buried Beneath' the majesty of the song that I am writing about which adds bells that are a nice touch, and a very powerful soaring melodic chorus and melodies. This song is one of those dreamy light string and piano soaring anthems/ballads for those who feel like no one can understand, and brings a message to the listener; that they are 'Not Alone.' The next song is one of those angst ridden screamers that would prefer  to "Watch You Crawl" with that funk-nu metal riff ; after some grinding on a half-pipe, leaps in the air as drums keep count. "The Outside" starts with stuff we've heard from RED and many others before and during the present, but the "let me out" refrain/breakdown and last minute in general make up for it.  The southern fried riff that starts off this track with that pressing ominous drum line, then go into a less distinctive, but still memorable riff; soaring harmonies, a screaming passage towards the end, and the resistance to lose ourselves to become another cog in the machine make us "Who We Are." I guess they say "The Best Is Yet To Come." Well, if it still didn't come yet then there are some high expectations. The song itself is one of those soaring symphonic ballads that might not actually have a face, and unless you remember exactly how the vocals are you may not recall who it is. The last one is a "Hymn For the Missing" and is more of  polar opposite to that off the opening track, it's still powerful, but is also beautiful, sorrowful, and clean vocal piano lead number, with some strings in it too; that for the last two minutes has beautiful female vocals on the other side of the cloud which become louder as the song climaxes. Best tracks: Let It Burn, Buried Benath,Watch You Crawl, The Outside, and Hymn for the Missing.