Red Mess Releases Third Full-Length Album Hi-Tech Starvation: A Perfect Blend of Cool Grooves and Crushing Riffs
Red Mess is a trio from Londrina, Brazil who got their start in 2013. The band wasted no time and cranked out an EP in both 2014 and 2015 before releasing their debut album, Into the Mess, in 2017. Here, Red Mess's raw and gritty stoner/doom foundations are prominent, delivering an authentic and in-your-face listening experience with a dash of punk rock spirit.
After the pandemic began to relinquish its grip on the world in 2022, what began as a European tour for Red Mess turned into a permanent residency in Berlin. In October of that year, the band released their sophomore album Breathtaker, which offers a noticeably smoother sound. While the weighty thrum of stoner/doom is still very much intact, Red Mess softens the edges a bit by emphasizing the groove element of stoner rock. Most notably, the band incorporates a massive amount of psychedelic rock influence into Breathtaker, giving each and every track a remarkable fluidity in spite of its heft. These elements combined also allow Red Mess's grunge tones to stand out: moody undercurrents that alternate between murky and soaring expressions in both vocals and instrumentals alike.
Now, on August 1, 2025, the band has released their third album, Hi-Tech Starvation, via Noisolution. This is a fast-moving and highly concentrated release on which Red Mess combines the bite of their early sound with the smooth sophistication they developed on Breathtaker.
Let's take an in-depth look track-by-track:
Red Mess - Hi-Tech Starvation
1.) Huntress
When I first heard Huntress when it was released in May as the first single from Hi-Tech Starvation, I was elated to hear Red Mess's failproof formula in action right away: velvety smooth grooves, catchy hooks, and buzzing, electric riffs that are deliciously dense in all the right places. Huntress really does have that standout "single" quality; the cool flow is memorable and infectious, urging you to move and sing along.
2.) Inexistent Color
Inexistent Color, a song that truly has it all, had me enthusiastically nodding along in no time. This track is characterized by trippy, spiraling verses and choruses that erupt with the catchiness of post grunge, the energy of alternative metal, and the grittiness of stoner metal. The icing on the cake is the instrumental breakdown in the song's final third, highlighting crunchy riffage, wailing guitar solos, and the standout energetic pulse of the bass.
3.) Ransomware
Ransomware begins with taut and anxious tones that slowly unravel into chaos as the song plays out - a cold and futuristic quality that descends into a coarse and tempestuous whirlwind, completely encircling the listener. To top it off, Ransomware ends with a haunting, doomy incantation, evoking scenes of a world succumbing to mind control.
4.) Intravenous
Intravenous, the second single released from the album, is quite a soulful song overall in spite of the live-wire bite of the guitar and the sinister crawl of the bass, although these elements certainly do their part in adding some mournful notes along the way. It's the vocals that control the mood here, shaking off the heavier, gravelly textures utilized in the previous songs and opting for a completely dulcet performance, emotion strongly palpable in each and every note.
5.) Xenon
Xenon is a wildly energetic instrumental track that blazes by in just over two minutes. This song leans further into heavy metal territory and features a killer standout bass (further reminding me of how much I'm noticing and enjoying the basslines throughout this album) and crashing drums.
6.) Kind Villian
Kind Villian is a potent track, offering up some classic, blistering stoner metal vibes and one of the most intense vocal performances on the album.
7.) Uncanny Valley
Uncanny Valley ends the album in an energetic and memorable way. Almost cheeky vocals take on a half sung/half spoken approach in places, giving their tone an undeniable punk rock quality. Sharp and crunchy riffs build above a prominent bass line in the verses before rolling into barreling waves of stoner riffs in the choruses. In a nutshell, this song ends Hi-Tech Starvation with a bold exclamation point as it abruptly comes to a screeching halt.
Final Thoughts
Hi-Tech Starvation seems to build a bridge between Red Mess's previous two full-length albums. It keeps the heaviness found on Into the Mess but sheds the doomy trudge, opting for an altogether rollicking pace backed by the weight of stoner metal. Hi-Tech Starvation retains the expressive, melodic vocals and often grungy delivery that the band built up on Breathtaker, but leaves behind much of the psychedelic influence, instead ambitiously going for seemingly nonstop energy and galloping speeds. Furthermore, Red Mess appears to be jumping headfirst into the stoner metal arena on this album. This is a move that suits the band remarkably well, as it allows them to maintain their infectious grooves while delivering instrumentals that are as dense as they are lively. Perhaps best of all, Hi-Tech Starvation doesn't' feel like too radical of a transformation for Red Mess. In fact, it's an incredibly fitting and natural next step.
If you're anything like me and you appreciate both the heavy and lighter sides of stoner rock and are a sucker for a catchy hook, you'll absolutely adore Hi-Tech Starvation.
More About Red Mess
Red Mess Is:
Lucas Klepa - Vocals, Bass
Thiago Franzim - Guitar
Douglas Labigalini - Drums
You can follow Red Mess and listen to their music at the following links:
A massive thank you to Noisolution for the promo!
Red Mess - Hi-Tech Starvation Review: Video Version
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