River Runs Red Vinyle Rouge, Bleu et Transparent

Description

Does the term "concept album" conjure visions of grand orchestral choirs and strange mythological creatures crossing your mind? Well, this album will change your mind... forever. River Runs Red from 1993 is indeed a concept album, but its themes include alcoholism, physical violence, and ultimately, suicide. The record intersperses dramatic sketches that tell the story of a tormented teenager who edges toward self-harm between intensely personal songs written by bassist Alan Robert, which stylistically range from New York hardcore to dark metal to grunge. The intensity keeps building until River Runs Red concludes with the sound of blood from a suicide attempt dripping into the bathwater... This would normally require a spoiler warning, except that throughout the album, the protagonist's trajectory is clearly heading in only one direction. The status of a cult classic is almost guaranteed with a storyline like that, but in this case, it is well-deserved; River Runs Red is not just one of the greatest concept albums or metal albums ever made. It is, quite simply, one of the most powerful records ever created in any genre.