Red Hymns: Vol. 2

Written by Robin Ervolina
When an opening track is your straight-out-of-the-gate introduction to a band, it requires a few things to be effective: lyrical intent, passionate delivery, and a gripping melody. Red Hymns' "Callisto" nails it and then some, and the rest of their new EP Vol. 2 follows suit magnificently.
Red Hymns' first EP Vol. 1 was released August of 2016. Vol. 2 hit October 2017 and is part of a four-EP collection (no release dates have been announced for Vol. 3 and 4). The first two EPs are well worth a listen, the last two worth the wait, I'd guarantee it. New Jersey raised up Red Hymns in 2015, but Jeremy Hernandez (vocals), Alexander Grullon (guitar), Robert Piccininni Jr. (bass) and Michael Cipriano (drums) play as cohesively as bands ten times their "age." There are no missteps here, no sorting out of sound to be detected. Red Hymns clearly knows who they are, and their handshake hello is groove-heavy rock. Their calling card is etched with melodic determination. Something this good should make me feel guilty. It fails to do so, though it does succeed in making me feel dirty, in a very, very good way.
Opening track "Callisto" seduces in an instant with a guitar-driven melody and compelling vocals. It's an intro that doesn't rely on one facet of Red Hymns but rather showcases their cohesion. Hernandez' vocals are sharp and clean, pulling you into the sway-inducing verse, then coaxing you through a sweet chorus before dropping you back into an undeniably enchanting tone. A tune of 4 minutes and 33 seconds with so many twists and turns takes masterful precision to pull off, and Red Hymns demonstrates they have just that. Side note: Red Hymns recently collaborated with Barrier Brewing Company and released a beer titled Endless Sky IPA, inspired by the lyrics in "Callisto." If it's as rich and complex as this track, it begs to be imbibed.
"Callisto" fades out with Hernandez calling "What do you want?" Try as I might I still can't answer that question on a grand scale, but in the moment, I want more of Red Hymns complicated melodic rock, and they satisfy with "Vultures" and "Terra Preta." "Vultures" gives me a drum-driven desire to move through the room like a predator stalking every word and note, and "Terra Preta," Portuguese for "black earth," closes out Vol. 2 (too soon) in the way every last song should; compelling the listener to listen again.
While there is a definitive sound to Red Hymns, it's unique and not remotely repetitive. Vol. 2, though only three-songs long, can be played in rotation endlessly. If you love this first song, you'll continue loving Vol. 2 and like me, stream Vol. 1 alongside it on Spotify. This is a collective I can happily and confidently stake my reputation on. The songs are crafted with care and delivered with intensity. It's a moody, solid, emotive pure rock offering. If you're lucky enough to live near Teaneck, NJ., you can catch Red Hymns in concert with He Is Legend at Debonair Music Hall on December 14. If not, do like me and follow Red Hymns on Facebook to keep track of future tour dates.