Rainbows Are Free are an Oklahoma-based Heavy Psych and Prog Rock band formed in 2007, which over time has established itself as one of the best in their country and beyond. The new album “Silver and Gold” is due for release on March 07, 2025 via Ripple Music and contains 9 medium-length tracks. A deep bass line and percussive drumming characterise the intro to “Your Girl,” the album’s opener that slowly immerses us in the band’s sounds. The intensity increases as the song progresses, incorporating gloomy guitar work, a background of keyboards over which an incisive vocal fits. In the second part, the band develops an instrumental section with solid guitar and keyboard breakdowns, before returning to the vocals and concluding with the last verses with more heavy and aggressive traits. The band develops a fine heavy prog, dynamic and engaging in “Runnin’ With A Friend Of The Devil,” where the keyboards are more present. Solid guitar riffs and a monolithic rhythm section full of tempo changes characterise the structure of the piece, constantly evolving by interweaving vocal and instrumental parts. The song evolves into a more heavy rock sound, with the guitar becoming the protagonist with well-constructed riffs and a fine solo interlacing with the keyboards in the instrumental section. “Solar Flare” is a track we have already enjoyed as a single taken to anticipate the album’s release. Percussion and an atmospheric backgroud open the track, with dreamy features, showing a different facet of the band’s sound. In a constant musical crescendo, the band incorporates guitar and keyboards first, then a solid and elaborate rhythm section, and develops a granitic piece between Heavy Rock and Prog. The vocal parts alternate very dynamic and expressive passages with aggressive ones, enhancing their technique, as the band develops an elaborate and very refined sound. A psychedelic intro with enveloping sounds characterises “Sleep,” a hypnotic piece with continuous tempo changes and a very elaborate sound. A deep, load-bearing bass line characterises the rhythm section while guitar and keyboards intertwine, with cleverly dosed modulations and effects. In the finale, the band offers a brief instrumental section before returning to the vocals and concluding with the last verses, A psychedelic intro with enveloping sounds characterises ‘Sleep,’ a hypnotic piece with continuous tempo changes and a very elaborate sound. A deep, load-bearing bass line characterises the rhythm section while guitar and keyboards intertwine, with cleverly dosed modulations and effects. In the finale, the band offers a brief instrumental section before returning to the vocals and concluding with the last stanzas, certainly keeping us wide awake. A short guitar solo opens “Hide,” which evolves into modern Heavy Rock sounds with massive guitar riffs to which synths are added. The rhythm section is enriched by a killer bassline, while the vocals with effects and modulations interpret the lyrics giving a melancholic touch. The interweaving of Progressive Rock and Heavy Psychedelia is well accomplished, imbued with the band’s personal style and melancholic touch. Energy and freshness characterize the rhythmic “The Light,” with coinvincing vocals and refrains intertwined with intense instrumental sections. The atmospheres sobno dark, with good work in the background of the keyboards, giving way in the finale to a solo interweaving with the scratchy guitar. A song that incorporates the roughness of Post-Punk, modern Heavy rock traits and the dark atmospheres of Doom. Post-Punk traits that mark the sounds of “Dirty,” the album’s shortest track, which takes us straight back to the late 1970s. Skillful the band gives a modern twist to the wave sounds of the swconda half of the 1970s. A frenetic rhythm and slurries of guitar and keyboards over which an incisive and ‘dirty‘ vocals. “Fade Away” opens with guitar arpeggios and warm, expressive vocals, developing the song into a musical crescendo. Cpon the entrance of the rhythm section the band interweaves guitar interventions and vocal parts, returning to more classical sounds. In the finale the rhythm section highlights a guitar solo, then concludes with choral vocal parts. The album ends with the gloomy sounds of “The Gift,” incorporating the rougher traits of Heavy Rock to Doom and Prog. The result is a punchy, modern piece that alternates between dark passages and an aggressive vocal that takes us through to the album’s finale. A listen that confirms that this band is one of the most interesting in the modern Heavy scene. From 2007 to the present they have personalized and consolidated their sounds, and proonend us a mature and convincing album. A recommended listen for all lovers of Heavy sounds between Progressive, Psuychedelia and the band’s personal touch.
Tracklist
01. Your Girl (04:34)
02. Runnin’ With A Friend Of The Devil (04:53)
03. Solar Flare (05:43)
04. Sleep (04:34)
05. Hide (04:18)
06. The Light (04:38)
07. Dirty (02:36)
08. Fade Away (04:53)
09. The Gift (03:45)
Lineup
Brandon Kistler / Vocals
Richie Tarver / Lead Guitar
Jason Smith / Bass
Joey Powell / Rhythm Guitar
Bobby Onspaugh / Drums
Josh Elam / Synths
