Active for less than a year and releasing their first song in September 2023, Virginia’s Sever Red have been building towards the culmination of releases that make up their debut EP, Sick & Tormented. In that time, they have attracted a substantial number of listeners. Thief – due for release on 26th January – is the fifth track to be released and closes the first chapter of the band’s history. Each song on Sick & Tormented is an agonising, yet reflective journey, chronicling the inner-most feelings of frontman Kevin Riner and his battle with addiction.
He recently spoke with Hotel Hobbies, discussing the approach to the EP, the band and the future. Read the interview here: https://www.hotelhobbies.com/post/interview-sever-red-frontman-kevin-riner
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The gradual release of the Sick & Tormented EP – while lyrically solitary, painful and meditative in nature – has been a fascinating pilgrimage for fans of the band. Forever Changed and Desperation were contemplative echoes of a troubled past; Gone traversed the black despondency of addiction; and Afraid asked probing questions of the self upon acknowledging the problem in which you are drowning.
Thief paints a graphic picture of Riner in the throes of regret and yearning for forgiveness and inner peace. Time spent wasting away and I wonder if I’ll ever change / I’m plagued by mistakes that I’ve made / I still make them everyday / And I know I’m a fool. Remorseful and acknowledging behaviour that has led to stagnation, the opening lines suggest a cyclical nature to Riner’s actions, which were futile or counterproductive. Throughout the previous four songs released by Sever Red, Riner’s vocals have been tormented, barbed and razor-edged. His delivery in Thief is no less impassioned but during some moments there is an unmistakable glimmer of anticipation, his vulnerability and his disbelief that the nightmare might at last be ending. Â
Riner wrote all the songs before Sever Red even existed but he has been admirably supported by the musicians he has rallied to his cause. There is a feeling of innate collaboration (some of the members were in bands with each other during their formative years) and desire to support Riner in the telling of his story. Each song on Sick & Tormented has its own character; however, there is a common vitality to the performances by each member of the band.
No song on the EP exceeds four and a half minutes but these are no throwaway rock songs. Sever Red put an extraordinary amount of care into their arrangements as witnessed by the careful use of every riff or dynamic shift. They intuitively know when to link instruments (particularly bass and drums) to particular lines in the lyrics, while being equally adept at letting the song breathe.  Just over two minutes in, there is a short but wonderfully poignant quieter moment (with gently picked guitar in the background) in which Riner is summoning the energy to finally dismiss and eradicate the toxic spectre that has been haunting him for so long. Chugging and genuinely heavy guitar accompanies Riner as he begs for anything approaching comfort as if they are trying to drag him under once last time. I’ve been broken for so long / Please wash away all of my pain.
Thief also offers a lucid and honest look at the human condition, touching on themes of contrition, escapism, accountability and the quest for redemption. Although by no means celebratory, it is the most optimistic song on Sick and Tormented. The pivotal moment in the song, indicating a turning point from self-destruction to self-improvement, comes with Riner’s final confession. I’m ashamed that things have ended up this way / And today, I promise that I will make a change.
Now that the Sick & Tormented EP is complete, fans will be able to experience the five songs collectively in the order that Riner intended. Those who have not listened to the band before will be drawn to their tales of suffering, weariness and sacrifice. With songs of this nature, and their ventures into the live arena due to begin in February, Sever Red’s particular brand of hard rock is sure to weave and twist its way into the souls of many more listeners.
Written: 21st January 2024
Thief is released on 26th January 2024
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