The Red Step
Pravda, 2021
10/10
An outfit spearheaded by Tobias Nathaniel, of The Black Heart Procession, with The Red Step he’s in the company of some of Belgrade’s finest musicians, who also perform as Serbia’s Kazna Za Usi.
The debut album leads with the hazy atmosphere of “For The Dead”, where Nathaniel’s gritty vocals, warm keys from Boris Eftovski, and Vladimir Markoski’s powerful drumming guide the dramatic landscape, and “A Nice Way To End” follows with a raw yet melodic approach that’s crunchy in a punk rock sort of way.
Closer to the middle, “Before The Storm” trims the pace back with a powerful display of both garage rock and post-punk ideas, while “The Harvest” benefits greatly from subtle cello underneath a ragged bout of tension that’s carefully textured. “We Live On High”, the best of the best, then flows with a swift pace of angular and driving punk that’s irresistible.
As we approach the end, “The Ghosts Of Our Beginning” is a bit chunky, very melodic and full of contagious energy, and “Through The Seasons” exits the listen calm, intimate and not short on emotion amid well executed piano.
Sometimes gloomy, always creative and with plenty of cultured musicianship, The Red Step’s brand of ominous and mature punk meets indie-rock and throwback alt-rock just might be your new infatuation, cause it’s probably one of the best records you’ve heard in years.
Travels well with: Shannon Wright- In Film Sound; Zilched- Doompop