The Red Scare was a post-hardcore band from Knoxville, Tennessee, active through the late 90s. They toured a few times with Orchid and released quite an extensive amount of music in their active years including split releases with Orchid, True North and more.
The Red Scare is one of those bands I can't get enough of. They're the perfect mix of hardcore and post-rocky riffs that make me feel like I'm always in the right mood to listen to them. Similar stylistically to bands like Heroin, Four Hundred Years or Shotmaker, The Red Scare blends elements of hardcore, post-rock and punk in their tightly played riffs and emotionally driven vocals.
Their sound is very much based on technical rhythms, all played with perfect execution. Some hardcore from the 90s opted for more of a focus on sounding as chaotic and noisy as possible than than on how well things were played, however, that is not the case with The Red Scare. You can hear the skill and synchronity the band had with one another in every track they released. Their songs are endlessly catchy and always end up stuck in my head which I can't say is always the case in this particular genre.
I can only imagine how incredible it would have been to see this band play live and watch in real-time as they play perfectly in sync with one another. The constant changes in tempo and rhythm make it impossible not to move along with the music while listening.
The Red Scare Discography (Spotify)
Capillary Lockdown 12"/CD 2000 (Troubleman Unlimited, Hand Held Heart)
Strangers Die Every Day 12"/CD 2001 (Toubleman Unlimited, Hand Held Heart)
...A Word About High Fidelity 7" 1997 (Paralogy)
Hail Mary / The Red Scare Split 7" 1999 (Hand Held Heart)
The Red Scare / Pankration Split 7" 1999 (Donut Friends)
