First Impression: Partial Distortions by Red Mesa

I’m taking a bit of a different approach to this review. This is being written as I listen to it for the first time, hence the hokey title.

I received Red Mesa’s Partial Distortions in the mail before the release date, yay! So, here are my first impressions.

Óðr starts the album off strong. Heavy riffs and a catchy vocal melody. Love how the track changes tempo to the slower and heavier section.

Assertion punches in as Óðr fades out. A slow punch trod, then you get the nod to Barry Manilow when the lyrics kick in. The song morphs from there and keeps the punch as it continues.

Side A ends with Dying in the Cold Sun. Compared to the previous tracks, this one slows the tempo and is mellower in tone. Makes you think about the descent in life.

Desert March follows behind and starts off mellow and with a beefy undertone. Then it cranks up but with the same mellowness before transitioning into a different riff. Then you’ve marched into a different part of the desert this track has dug you through. Marching faster as it takes you further in and drags you out the other side.

And on to side B kicking off with 12 Volt Shaman. Leads in with some studio banter, sets the tone momentarily, and shifts mood a hair. Nice tasty riff and semi-spoken lyrics. I dig that in this tune. This one has some great changes on vocal style and nice variety that works well with the changes in the song structure. There’s no formula applied to this, and it flows nicely.

Witching Hour close out the album as trods in as the bells end Desert March. It’s kind of a somber and heavy riff as the vocals roll in. As a change in riff comes, the sound gets a little angrier. A mild and great juxtaposition to how the song started, in which it soon returns with a hint of meditation added. This soon brings in the aggressive vocals blending well over the meditative tone of the song. The tone continues after the vocals end and slowly continue until the song fades out.

Great album! It officially releases on 4/19/2024, and you can order here.