If you're looking to get in touch with your inner grunge, Chicago native BLAKE RED's debut EP - "S.O.S (Songs on Suicide)" is a satisfying listen. "S.O.S" contains 4 straight forward grunge heavy tracks that explore the self-destructive disease of depression and suicide. Blake Red's Alt/Metal chops recall the likes of STP and ALIVE AND CHAINS, only with less heroin and more wrist cutting. This is however an exploration, and unlike say, Layne Staley's often transparent and poetic hopelessness, Red finds strength in the void.

BLAKE RED is the center piece of "S.O.S ( Songs on Suicide)", displaying some pretty good range, from raspier lows to more angelic highs. "Face It" is a dirty chainsaw of an opener and its apparent that Red can twist some ugly vocals around catchy riffs before chiming in with a nice sounding chorus. "Razerblade", like "Face It" is hook heavy and a bit repetitive. The title alone should need no explanation. "Let It Hurt" is perhaps my favorite track on the EP as it's the solid mix of catchy and nasty, and unlike the other songs on the album, the anxiety expressed through Red's belting yells felt the most authentic. "Through the Sky" ends things on a more experimental level, bending guitars and vocals synths. Its an interesting departure from the establishment.

There's no doubt BLAKE RED has a knack for writing grungy heavy hooks that can be effective in their expression. I would say that the opening two songs were the weakest of bunch as they were the most repetitive and you won't grasp any emotions the same way you do on the latter half. However, for a debut EP, "Sounds on Suicide" is well produced and easy on the ears. As an Alternative Metal album from someone you've probably never heard of, it's worth a listen at least.