Fans of Blake Red will already know that her music never lacks energy, but “Out of the Cage” kicks things up a notch with a powerful raw metal sound. This tightly focused, snarling comeback EP delivers five tracks that trade subtlety for emotional heat while still being melodically savvy when called for.
Out of the Cage is Chicago-based Blake Red’s first EP in four years, and was positioned as a homecoming release with a Chicago release-show on the same date. dedicated to Red’s late father, the inspiration behind her musical journey, this EP leans hard into themes of survival, and defiance.
The album opens with the title track “Out of the Cage,” a fierce single that makes an impact with its heavy drumming and guitar solos. Blake’s vocals are almost chant-like, giving the song a strangely otherworldly sound.
“Secrets Are No Fun” takes on a more of a punk rock sound and is a narrative track that twists a childhood rhyme into something threatening. The jagged riffs and a propulsive arrangement underpin lyrics about gossip, betrayal, and the damage of weaponized secrets.
But the standout single is “Scorpion,” the EP’s angriest and most immediate track. Distorted guitars create an incredible atmosphere for the venomous chant that is the chorus. Lyrically, it uses the scorpion as a metaphor for predators and toxic people while sonically building it to sting.
Blake Red writes and performs as a multi-instrumentalist, and also produces much of her material herself. The production on Out of the Cage pushes a muscular alt-rock/metal sound, favoring immediacy and impact over gloss.
Out of the Cage is a compact and compact and compelling calling card that has Blake Red returning louder and sharper than before. With its snarling arrangements and ruthless lyrics, this is a perfect collection for fans of alt-rock that wears its scars on the sleeve.