There’s something familiar about At Their Very Best, the debut album from Red Sun. Blending emo, pop-punk, power pop, and alternative rock, the band tap into a sound that will bring plenty of mid-2000s favorites to mind. There’s a little Fall Out Boy, a little Weezer, and plenty of that melodic, guitar-driven energy that made this style of music so appealing. But Red Sun don’t sound like they’re trying to recreate the past. There’s a contemporary feel to the songwriting and production that makes this sound fresh.

The album gets off to a terrific start with “Intro,” which begins with a more introspective feel before the drums and guitars kick in and everything builds into a catchy emo-rock anthem. It’s a great introduction to the band, showcasing the combination of clever lyrics, energetic instrumentation, and melodic vocals that runs throughout the album. “Let It Rip!” is another immediate highlight, with the kind of irresistible hook that makes it feel like a radio hit. The interplay between the drums and guitars is particularly good, eventually building into a rhythmic assault that the vocals seem to join in on.

There’s plenty of variety in the arrangements, even when the songs share a common musical vocabulary. “Slayce” is a fun, crowd-pleasing number with an unusual, almost keyboard-like guitar sound and a really cool bass line. “Ruff Ryderz” moves through a few different shapes, starting with a Weezer-like power-pop feel before shifting into pop-punk and emo, with an interesting horn-like sound adding another layer.

Elsewhere, “Officer Jenny (Redux)” gets a little heavier and muddier, with pounding drums and vocals that venture toward hardcore, while “Shark Kick” takes a more straightforward alternative-rock approach, building toward an explosive finish with guitars flying everywhere.

The band are particularly good at building momentum. “Re: Dallas” has some terrific anthemic moments, with the guitars seeming to ride a roller coaster as the song moves through its crescendos. There’s even a little glam-rock flavor in the mix.

“God Bless Luke Wittrock” takes a different approach, opening with acoustic guitar and tender, restrained vocals before gradually exploding into a huge instrumental finale. It’s one of the album’s brightest spots, showing off some impressive guitar work along the way. “…Eat What U Earn” also stands out, with a cool melody and some wonderfully playful, almost arcade-like guitar sounds.

Lyrically, the album spends plenty of time in less comfortable territory. Loneliness, isolation, insecurity, disappointment, and the frustration of feeling stuck while life moves on around you are recurring themes.

There are reflections on relationships, personal struggles, bad habits, and the sometimes difficult realization that your own choices might be contributing to where you find yourself.

The writing can be clever, using wordplay to give some pretty melancholy thoughts a lighter touch. At other times, the humor falls away and the songs become more earnest and vulnerable.

“The House Always Wins” brings things to a satisfying close, combining many of the album’s strengths. The vocals are more earnest, the guitars create a terrific atmosphere, and the drums pound away as the song builds toward its conclusion.

At just under 30 minutes, At Their Very Best is an easy album to invest some time to. Red Sun have a good feel for melody, know how to put together a catchy chorus, and aren’t afraid to let their songs build into something bigger.

The drums are consistently terrific, the guitars have plenty of personality, and there’s more thoughtfulness in the arrangements and lyrics than you might initially expect.

If you have a soft spot for the emo and pop-punk sounds of the 2000s, this is a well-crafted collection that should fit comfortably into your playlist. It’s the kind of album you can throw on, turn up, and enjoy from beginning to end.

Verdict: Worth a Spin

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