The Red Chord

The Red Chord must be familiar with European theater; the Boston band took its name from a German play in which a schizophrenic man slits his lover’s throat and then reverts to his normal self, asking, “My love, what is that red cord across your neck?” It’s both poetic and brutal — perfect for describing the group. The Red Chord can’t be squeezed into a genre; it’s not metalcore, grind, hardcore or death metal, but all of those and a few more variations of heavy music. And impressively, these musicians can switch up styles without losing their signature sound. On the band’s latest disc, Clients, the rapid drumming is precise (compliments of ex-Origin drummer John Longstreth, who is no longer with the Red Chord), and surprisingly, the guitars can keep up (check out “Antman”). The real question is, can you keep up? With the Red Chord’s breakneck speed, the only downside is that you may hurt yourself trying.