RIYL: Jawbreaker, Hot Water Music, Leatherface

s the new band from former Gunmoll frontman, Mike Hale. Gunmoll sounded like what you might expect if Leatherface and Jawbreaker had a premature baby. They released two albums and a split or two before going on hiatus indefinitely. Well, Mike Hale moved from Gainesville out to California after Gunmoll’s split and put out a solo album via Asian Man Records in 2007. It was certainly adequate but all Gunmoll fans have been waiting for him to plug back in with another rock band. And now he has done just that with In The Red. After a few split teases here and there, we finally have the band’s official full-length debut, simply titled Volume 1. If you dug what Gunmoll was about, In The Red will will have you foaming at the mouth. In The Red uses Hale’s maturation to the band’s advantage. Showing off a more polished and defined sound, In The Red are sharper than Gunmoll ever was. No worries though, Hale’s vocals still remain as gruff and powerful as ever. Vocally, Hale certainly was a student who learned at the altar of Frankie Stubbs of Leatherface. His throaty screams continue to define his bands with great results. Much like Gunmoll could turn a song upside down on a dime, In The Red are practicing the same kind of anthemic explosions. Volume 1 is a massive success on just about every level. Fans of this style and genre should be running to get this. I am stoked to hear what Hale and his cohorts have in store next.