Declaration (Red album)

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Declaration
Studio album by
Red
ReleasedApril 3, 2020 (2020-04-03)
GenreNu metal[1]
Length38:11
LabelRed Entertainment, The Fuel
ProducerRob Graves
Red chronology
Gone
(2017) 		Declaration
(2020) 		Rated R
(2023)
Singles from Declaration
  1. "The Evening Hate"
    Released: June 7, 2019
  2. "From the Ashes"
    Released: August 2, 2019
  3. "Sever"
    Released: January 17, 2020
  4. "All for You"
    Released: February 14, 2020[2]
  5. "The War We Made"
    Released: March 13, 2020[3]

Declaration is the seventh studio album by American Christian rock band Red. Originally scheduled for release on April 10, 2020, it was released on April 3, 2020 through the band's independent label Red Entertainment in collaboration with The Fuel Music and was produced by Rob Graves.[4] It is the band's first release on these labels since their departure from Essential Records.

Background and recording[edit]

After announcing the band would not be continuing their partnerships with Essential Records and Sony, they announced their future music would be independently funded, recorded, and released.[5] They also announced that touring drummer Dan Johnson will join the band full-time as their fourth member. The band asked fans for support through GoFundMe and originally intended to not release another full-length studio project, focusing on singles and smaller portions of music made at a faster rate. After further thought and discussions with fans, the band decided to record and release a new album, while still utilizing the advantages of quicker music roll-outs that come with independence.[6] The band's former drummer, Joe Rickard, acted as the mixing and mastering engineer on the album, as well as co-writing two songs.[7]

Release and promotion[edit]

The band posted an update, via a YouTube video on January 21, 2019. They announced that they are no longer signed to Essential/Sony and they will record their next album independently. They also announced that touring drummer Dan Johnson will join the band full-time as their fourth member, thus making a four-piece lineup since 2014.[8] On June 7, the band released "The Evening Hate", their first new released music since leaving their record label.[9][10]

After announcing a small run of 10th anniversary tour dates for Innocence & Instinct,[11] the band released another single, "From the Ashes", accompanied by a lyric video, and announced more tour dates.[12] On October 11, the band announced a new EP, The Evening Hate, that would precede a new studio album and would be released November 1, in addition to releasing a new single, "Hemorrhage", a cover of Fuel's song of the same name.[13]

On January 10, 2020, the band announced that their upcoming seventh studio album titled Declaration is set for release on April 10, 2020.[14] On March 25, the band announced that Declaration would be released a week earlier than its original April 10 release date.[15]

Reception[edit]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Album of The Year75/100[25]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicPositive[16]
Jesus Freak Hideout[17]
Rock 'N' Load10/10[18]
Today's Christian Entertainment[19]
Under the Radar[20]
The Cultured NerdA[21]
CCM Magazine[22]
Sputnikmusic4/5[23]
The Heartland Attack10/10[24]

Declaration received critical acclaim; critics praised the band's return to form and the heavier side of the album, while some expressed disappointment that the album did not include any ballads, whereas all their previous releases did.

Jesus Freak Hideout rated the album 4.5 out of 5 stars and stated: "Declaration may just be a new standard for Red. An emotional ballad akin to 'Of These Chains' and 'Hymn for the Missing' would have been a welcome inclusion, but as it stands, this is quite easily the rock album to beat this year. Existing fans will be thrilled and it may even win over a few new converts. However you choose to listen, I highly recommend you do."[17] In his review for Riff magazine, Max Heilman wrote, "These guys could have given in to trends, or at least laid off the classical element, but they know what works best for them. You can't help but buy into the emotional breadth Declaration lays out—from its heaviest breakdowns to the extravagant orchestral sonics—that lays it to rest. Without label constraints to hold it back, it's great to hear Red elevating the post-grunge and nu-metal far beyond expectation."[26] Rock 'N' Load praised the album saying, "A stunning effort from the Nashville outfit, Declaration is an album that should be on everyone's radar. A stellar effort from RED could well be their finest recording to date."[18]

Accolades[edit]

Year Ceremony Accolade Result Ref.
2021 We Love Christian Music Awards The Amp Award
(Rock/Alternative Album of the Year) 		Nominated
[27]

Commercial performance[edit]

"The Evening Hate" peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Christian Digital Song Sales, "From the Ashes" peaked at No. 15, and "Sever" peaked at No. 21.[28]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Anthony Armstrong and Rob Graves, except where noted

Declaration track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."All for You"Anthony Armstrong, Rob Graves3:06
2."Infidel"A. Armstrong, Graves4:03
3."Cauterize"A. Armstrong, Graves3:46
4."The War We Made"A. Armstrong, Graves3:52
5."The Evening Hate" (re-recorded version; original version from The Evening Hate EP)A. Armstrong, Randy Armstrong, Graves4:47
6."Float"A. Armstrong, Graves3:06
7."The Victim"A. Armstrong, Graves, Joe Rickard3:00
8."Sever"A. Armstrong, Graves, Keith Wallen4:02
9."Only Fight"A. Armstrong, Graves, Rickard3:02
10."From the Ashes" (re-recorded version; original version from The Evening Hate EP)A. Armstrong, Graves5:23
Total length:38:11

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[7]

Red

  • Michael Barnes – lead vocals
  • Anthony Armstrong – guitars, backing vocals, assistant production, strings
  • Randy Armstrong – bass, backing vocals, piano
  • Dan Johnson – drums

Additional personnel

  • Rob Graves – production, strings
  • Joe Rickard – mixing, mastering
  • Paul DeCarli – digital editing
  • David Davidson – strings, violin
  • Dave Hagan – engineering
  • Gavin Mellberg – engineering
  • Michael Closson III – engineering
  • Mike Plotnikoff – engineering
  • Taylor Pollert – engineering
  • Kristin Wilkinson – viola
  • David Angell – violin
  • Carole Rabinowitz – cello
  • Christopher Kornmann – art direction & design
  • Tony Patoto – A&R
  • Chris Bradstreet – A&R, executive producer

Charts[edit]

Declaration chart performance
Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[29] 61
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[30] 2
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[31] 8
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[32] 4
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[33] 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[34] 6

References[edit]

  1. ^ Heilman, Max (July 10, 2021). "Underrated, Over-Hated: 6 Neglected Nü-Metal Bands". Metal Injection. Retrieved November 13, 2023. Red's latest album Declaration, released in April 2020, comes as a solid reminder of the band's staying power in a genre rife with mediocrity.
  2. ^ "New RED Song, "All For You" (New Album, "Declaration" April 10th)". Indie Vision Music. February 14, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  3. ^ "Red Releases "The War We Made" To Radio / Retail, Shares Song Live For Hundreds Of Thousands". Jesus Freak Hideout. March 13, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  4. ^ "Red Announce New Album 'Declaration'; Release New Single "Sever"". Alternative Revolt. January 17, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  5. ^ The Future of RED, retrieved March 30, 2020
  6. ^ "RED - On Going Independent, Making Music Videos, and Creating New Music (Part 1) | HardDrive Online". YouTube.
  7. ^ a b "Credits / Declaration / Red". Tidal. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  8. ^ thebandred. "The Future of RED". Retrieved January 22, 2019 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ Schaffner, Lauryn (June 7, 2019). "Red Unleash War-Stricken Video for New Song 'The Evening Hate'". Loudwire. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  10. ^ "The Evening Hate - Single by Red on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  11. ^ "RED Announces Innocence and Instinct 10th Anniversary Shows". Rock On Purpose. August 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  12. ^ "Red Release Pulsing 'From the Ashes' Single, Announce Tour Dates". Loudwire. August 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  13. ^ Clarks, Jessie (November 2019). "RED Releases 'The Evening Hate' EP". TheChristianBeat.org. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  14. ^ "RED – Announce New Album "Declaration" Out On 10th April – Further UK Date Added To Full European Tour". Rock 'N' Load. February 6, 2020. Archived from the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  15. ^ "VOLUME UP. Good morning. 😏 ‼️ DECLARATION ‼️ will now be available everywhere April 3rd!!". Twitter. March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  16. ^ Monger, Timothy. "Declaration - RED".
  17. ^ a b Munachen, Lucas (April 1, 2020). "JFH Staff Review: Red – Declaration". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "RED // Declaration // Album Review". Rock 'N' Load. April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  19. ^ Lebel, Lori (April 2, 2020). "RED 'Declaration'". Today's Christian Entertainment. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  20. ^ Spenceley, Haydon (May 22, 2020). "Red: Declaration (Red Entertainment) Review". Under the Radar. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  21. ^ Hurley, Ben (April 9, 2020). "{Album Review] "Declaration" by Red". The Cultured Nerd. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  22. ^ MacIntosh, Dan (April 17, 2020). "Red 'Declaration'". CCM Magazine. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  23. ^ Tyler White (April 2, 2020). "Review: Red (USA) - Declaration".
  24. ^ "'Declaration' album review". The Heartland Attack. May 1, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  25. ^ "Red - Declaration - Reviews". Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  26. ^ "The band Red 'declares' its independence with its new LP | ALBUM REVIEW". Riffmagazine.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  27. ^ "We Love Christian Music Awards - 9th Annual 2020". NewReleaseToday. NRT Media, Inc. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  28. ^ "Red". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  29. ^ "Red Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  30. ^ "Red Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  31. ^ "Red Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  32. ^ "Red Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  33. ^ "Red Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  34. ^ "Red Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
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