REDS is a product of the early 1990s New York City punk and hardcore scene. After a hiatus spanning over a decade, the band has reunited with a new lineup, a fresh upcoming album titled The Truth of Impermanence, and a renewed sense of purpose. Featuring original members Dima Drjuchin (guitar) and Evan Kilgore (vocals) alongside newcomers Colin Bartoldus (bass) and Zach Rescignano (drums), REDS is back to making noise. After seeing the band play with Stential and Frail, I knew I had to speak with them.
Fortunately, I caught up with the band to dive into their origins, influences, the reunion that brought them back together, and the evolution of their totally unique but quintessentially 90s skramz/screamo sound.
About REDS: A Quick and Organic Spark
REDS came together in the early 2000s in New York City, a time when the local punk and hardcore scene was tight-knit and thriving. Dima Drjuchin, then a bassist in The Fiction, was eager to explore a new role on guitar. “I started playing guitar more during my time in The Fiction where I was a bass player. I started writing some songs and riffs on it. I was super into Hot Snakes at the time and wanted to start a band like them with me on guitar,” Dima recalled. Initially envisioned as a side project with The Fiction’s drummer Marc Grillo, the idea fizzled due to creative differences. “I think he wanted to do more stuff like he’s doing these days—like his band Stigmatism. Which I love, but I don’t know how to write like that, I just know how to write like me,” Dima said.
The band’s formation was borderline accidental. Dima connected with Randy D’Amico, bassist of Dear Tonight, and Scott Schauer, a drummer he met one night in the Lower East Side. “At some point he told me he played drums and I enthusiastically told him he should jam with my new band,” Dima said. Evan Kilgore, who had been orbiting the scene through his work with The Fiction and his fledgling record label Waking Records, eagerly volunteered as vocalist. “I forcefully volunteered myself for vocal duties,” Evan admitted. The original lineup—Dima, Evan, Randy, and Scott—gelled quickly. “We didn’t audition anyone else, we kinda became a band as soon as we started practicing. I think we got a song or two together at our first practice,” Dima said.
Evan provided further context. “I moved to NYC in 2002, and not too long after that connected with Dima and Colin who were in The Fiction—most likely through the Level Plane message board,” he said. His involvement with The Fiction, from driving on tours to collaborating on artwork for his label, deepened his friendship with Dima and set the stage for REDS’ formation. “There was a pretty great, close knit little scene of bands and friends that played together a lot in NYC,” Evan recalled, citing bands like Hot Cross, Dear Tonight, Books Lie, and Helen of Troy as part of their orbit. “These were our friends and this was the scene,” he said.
The Reunion: A New Chapter with New Faces
Fast forward to 2022, and REDS’ reunion was sparked by an unexpected catalyst: Ron, the founder of Jean Scene Records. “Ron, who does Jean Scene records, is essentially single handedly responsible for bringing us back together,” Evan said. In 2018, Ron reached out to reissue REDS’ debut LP is:means on cassette, reigniting interest in the band. “It had been about 13 years since that was released, and it definitely didn’t feel to me to be something people were clamoring for, but Ron’s excitement was contagious,” Evan said. This led to digging through old recordings and photos, rekindling the band’s spirit. In 2022, Ron proposed a reunion performance at a Pittsburgh festival, prompting Dima and Evan to reform the band.
The original bassist and drummer, Randy D’Amico and Scott Schauer, were unable to rejoin—Randy due to his demanding career as a brain surgeon and Scott due to lack of contact. Enter Colin Bartoldus and Zach Rescignano. Colin, a longtime friend and former bandmate of Dima’s in The Fiction, was a natural fit. “It was actually Colin who named REDS,” Evan shared. Colin’s enthusiasm was immediate: “I was driving Dima to an Anthrax show in New Jersey and we got to talking about band stuff. He mentioned that he and Evan were getting REDS back together with a new drummer but that Randy couldn’t do it. I’m not sure if he was fishing to see if I was interested or if he was about to straight up ask me but I didn’t give him a chance—I asked him if I could join up and the rest is history,” Colin said.
Zach, a drummer deeply embedded in the East Williamsburg DIY scene, joined after impressing Dima at a Band Lottery event. “I had a really fun time playing with him and pitched him to help Evan and I put REDS back together as our drummer. He enthusiastically agreed to do it and really worked hard to capture the spirit of Scott’s drumming,” Dima explains. A hair younger than the others, Zach brings a fresh energy. “Zach is also a good 15 years younger than the rest of us and keeps us on our toes,” Dima added.
Influences and Evolution: Hot Snakes to SST Vibes
REDS’ sound has always been a unique blend, drawing from the raw energy of post-hardcore and punk. Dima cites Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, Embrace, Rites of Spring, and Fugazi as key influences for the original record. “I was really into the Embrace record and Rites of Spring too. Fugazi obviously,” he said. For the new album, Dima leaned into simplicity inspired by a Sex Pistols cover band stint. “I loved the simplicity of SP songs and kinda wanted to do something in that style. Just chunky power chords,” he explained. He described the shift in their sound: “I heard someone say our original record was like a Dischord record and the new stuff is like SST. I don’t disagree with that.” The move from a tightly wound, emotionally raw post-hardcore sound to a rawer, looser, and more expansive punk rock vibe is evident on the record.
Zach, influenced by the broader DIY community, brings a variety of influences. “The DIY communities across the country are a big inspiration to me. I’ve been lucky enough to travel, play alongside, and see a ton of incredible music both inside and outside of my own local scene,” he said. He listed bands like The Royal They, Haybaby, The Dismemberment Plan, Refused, Minutemen, and Soul Glo as shaping his approach, noting, “It feels like everything could explode at any moment. It’s a living, breathing, animal that I sometimes feel like I have to wrestle just to keep up with.”
Colin drew inspiration from Randy D’Amico’s work on the first record, as well as bassists like Peter Hook, Joe Lally, Jaco Pastorius, and James Jamerson. “Many of the newer REDS songs were written with a sense of simplicity. I wasn’t sure how to approach them from a bass perspective until I realized that it gave me a lot of space to add tonality and melody,” he explained. His contributions, including songs like “Wounds” and “The Body,” carry a self-described (if unintentional) Ignition-like vibe.
DIY Roots and Personal Connection
The DIY culture of the 1990s profoundly shaped REDS’ approach. For Evan, it’s a core part of who he is. “For me, the 90s DIY scene is essentially my DNA, so it absolutely has shaped everything I’ve done with music,” he said. He envisions a tactile, communal experience: “If I had the time I’d love for everything we do to be handmade, all stitched and glued up, handwritten notes and manifestos, order and sell records via postcards in the mail. Play all of our shows on the floor and share a pot luck meal before them!” Labels like Ebullition, Council, Gravity, Tree, Vermiform, Bloodlink, and Dischord remain his guiding lights.
This ethos extends to their live shows and fan interactions. Evan values personal connections over polished professionalism, aiming to break down barriers between band and audience. “I just want to hang out with and have conversations with the people we play to and with. Without these personal connections this wouldn’t really mean that much to me or keep me going,” he said.
Review: The Truth of Impermanence
The Truth of Impermanence is REDS at their most refined, delivering a blistering set of short, fast, and dynamic tracks that channel the raw spirit of hardcore punk while offering a fresh take on the OG-skramz and post-hardcore sound. With hardcore punk deep in its veins, this album stands as the band’s most consistent effort, balancing their early Dischord-inspired roots with a heavier, SST-esque edge that stands out against today’s heavy music landscape.
The album kicks off with “The Lie Becomes the Truth,” a fast-paced opener that sets the tone with a clear, punchy mix where each instrument—Dima’s angular, frenetic shred, Colin’s melodic bass, Zach’s pounding drums, and Evan’s urgent vocals—sounds distinct but doesn’t take away from the whole. “Wounds” follows, tempting comparisons to Drive Like Jehu’s jagged guitar work, a nod Dima would endorse given his love for the band as noted earlier. REDS has always carved a sonically distinct path, spiritually akin to their Dischord predecessors but with a unique, emotive bite.
“Break to Build” distills REDS’ essence into a single, manic burst of energy, while “Love Song” delivers heartfelt sincerity, its catchy, almost swingy power chords check all the right boxes. “Slow Decay” has this almost Promise Ring-like guitar riff early in the track before erupting into a Nirvana-like wall of sound, with the haunting, Cobain-esque lyric, “the only way to fix it is amputation.” Its droning intensity marks it as one of the album’s standout tracks.
“So You Say” showcases Colin’s bass prowess with a groovy, commanding opening line, weaving seamlessly with Dima’s power chords and the post-hardcore lead guitar line near the end is a memorable moment that brings you back to the song. The track’s dynamic shifts serve to highlight the band’s versatility within the genre. “Energy” surprises with an early Rush-like energy—Dima’s sick lead guitar at the close is, again, a top moment, leaving listeners (me) wanting more. “Unnatural States” channels Fugazi’s spirit, particularly in Evan’s vocals, and includes a powerful quote from Ms. Fannie Lou Hamer: “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free,” a rallying cry as pertinent now as ever.
The album closes with “The Body,” the most post-hardcore track of the set, an epic and dynamic finisher where every member shines. From Zach’s relentless drumming to Colin’s melodic basslines and Dima’s intricate guitar work, the song showcases REDS pushing themselves to new heights, delivering powerful results that sound both nostalgic and fresh.
Recording The Truth of Impermanence
The new album was recorded with Steve Roche at Permanent Hearing Damage in Philadelphia, a familiar setting given Steve’s history with The Fiction and Off Minor. “Steve’s an old friend, going back to being in Saetia with Colin almost 30 years ago,” Evan said. Zach’s skills as a recording engineer aided the process, allowing for demos and overdubs at their East Williamsburg DIY space. The album was mixed by Steve and mastered by Will Killingsworth (Orchid/Ampere) at Dead Air, another friend from the scene.
Dima reflected on the recording process, noting its similarities to their first LP. “When we did the original LP it was the second time I ever recorded in a studio. This last time was well over my 20th. Not much was super different, both times we recorded all of the basic tracks in a weekend,” he said. The familiarity and professionalism of the team made the process smooth and enjoyable.
Lyrical Themes: Personal to Universal
The way Evan writes lyrics is straightforward and deeply personal. “I approach writing lyrics from a very pragmatic perspective. I’m thinking about an idea that I want to communicate and how to do that as simply and directly as possible while focusing on the more universal aspects,” he explained. He draws from notes and voice memos, matching themes to the tone of each song. “It’s been really fun with this iteration of REDS,” Evan said, “‘cause sometimes I’ll hear a new song and tone wise think, ‘I have no idea how to write lyrics for this song,’ and then just start to figure out the puzzle bit by bit.”
For The Truth of Impermanence, the lyrics reflect a period of upheaval in his life. “The songs on the new record were written at a time when the life I’d had for about 20 years, and the plans I’d had for the future based on that life, were falling apart. But at the same time, an entirely new future and world of possibility was opening itself up,” he said. The album’s title encapsulates this duality of loss and growth.
Dima praised Evan’s vocal style for its distinctiveness. “Part of what I loved about is:means is the vocals. I love how direct Evan is with his meaning and emotions. He’s not preachy but he advocates for positive change,” he said. Evan’s sing-shout delivery and unconventional phrasing add a unique flavor, setting REDS apart in a scene often dominated by screaming vocalists. “[Evan]’s also not a musician so his approach of how he engineers his parts is a fun X factor,” Dima said. “I often think, ‘man that’s not where I would have put a vocal’, or, ‘I wrote that to be a chorus but he just wrote different words and cadences to it every time we play it,’ but it always works, and really makes the songs.” He attributed this to what makes REDS unique: “it’s a big part of what gives us our specific flavor.”
Reflecting on Their Legacy and Reunion
REDS’ initial run was brief, but their music resonated within the emocore and screamo scenes. Evan remains humble about their impact: “I genuinely am not sure we left much of a lasting mark on ‘the scene’ as whole, or at least I’m not sure what it would be.” The band has been touched by fans’ enthusiasm. “We get to hear from time to time that our record really meant a lot to a handful of people,” Evan said. For the reunion, he hopes their performances feel fresh and relevant, not nostalgic. “I mostly hope they don’t feel like reunion performances I guess. That they feel like something new, something vibrant and relevant,” he added.
If you’re a musician or fan and REDS impacted you in the 90s, please reach out.
Dima, reflecting on their early days, acknowledged his atypical perspective in the punk scene. “I’ve always felt like a bit of an outsider in the punk scene. I kinda fell ass backwards into this world,” he says. His lack of formal guitar knowledge shaped REDS’ distinctive sound. “When I started writing songs for REDS I didn’t really know the rules. I barely knew how to play guitar. I think that’s part of what gives our sound its character,” he said.
Looking Forward
With The Truth of Impermanence, REDS is forging a new path not too far from their old one but with endless potential ahead. The addition of Colin and Zach, combined with Dima and Evan’s enduring partnership, has reinvigorated the band. Their commitment to DIY values, personal connection, and authentic expression clearly mix well as a band. The album proves that even after two decades REDS still has plenty to say.
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