RIGHT STRIPPED is an American Power/Prog Metal band that uses orchestral elements to enhance their sound. Formed in 2005, they went on hiatus in 2010. Reformed in 2018, "Daylight Into Darkness," their re-emergence onto the scene, was released March 6, 2021 via Carney Media Group.

The record starts with some really nice orchestral work, leading to a tasty guitar riff. The rhythm in "We Will Rise" is not terribly complex, but there are a lot of timely drum fills and some cool bass work that really draws attention to their skill sets. Later songs delve more into the complex patterns and rhythms of more progressive metal. The guitar solo for this song is nicely paced and fits the overall tone of the track.

Moving down to the title track, "Daylight Into Darkness," we get our first guttural vocals and screams. Those launch the song, mixed with some an excellent, almost speed metal intro. The song then scales back and goes with a killer riff coupled with a more melodic keyboard section. The drum work is really good here and the bass guitar paces the guitar for much of the song, giving the riff a bigger feel and deeper tone. This is a song that will translate well live!

"Inner Lies" starts with a guitar riff that throws back to '80's Power Metal with some NWOBHM influences thrown in. The rhythm section is running a nice gallop underneath and pacing the song really well. "Hellraiser" starts with a but of chanting and some almost alien keyboard tones before diving into a heavy riffed rocker. The dark tones on the guitar with the higher register singing is a nice offset through the chorus and really contrasts with the verses.

The ethereal and doom-laden intro to "Requiem" is next. The main body of the song is more up-tempo than the intro and feels almost like getting over the sadness of the start of the song. The shift has just a bit of a progressive feel. The power metal is the dominant sound, but there is more than just power in this song. RIGHT STRIPPED blends their influences and sounds well. This song works well with the rest of the record, highlighting different talents of the instrumentalists.

"Carry Me Home" is an acoustic ballad that showcases another side of the band. The ambient keyboard sounds under the guitar give the song a bit more depth and add to the feel of the song. There is a melancholy present here. This is not a power ballad. It's a well-done ballad that really hits the mark. It is calming and somber at the same time.

Wrapping up the record is the ten-minute, epic song, "Against The Tide". Starting with some quiet guitar work and subdued keyboard/piano/orchestration, it slowly builds through the first movement. Taking the time to set the mood. Once the main body of the song kicks in, the riff is mid-tempo with some fast-paced keyboard playing underneath. The drums move out front, duck back under the guitar. The bass comes out front for a bit. The vocals are clean and guttural. This is Prog/Power/Epic Metal song that was meant to end this record.

There is a smooth flow to this whole record. The songs work well together. The musicians are all really good at their craft. The vocals are well-done, hitting the feel of the songs, going from clean to harsh and back with ease. The songs are well-written and performed. The production and engineering/mixing are really good. This is a really good album overall and I look forward to hearing what they do next!