Code Red Riot

CODE RED RIOT burst onto the hard rock scene in 2017 as a moniker for the music of Corky Gainsford, ex-drummer/songwriter/producer for the band Otherwise (Century Media Records). He had split from that band just a year prior – after 2 full-length albums, five Top 20 singles, and an Acoustic EP he self-produced – aiming to step out from behind the kit and prove himself as a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and frontman, following in the footsteps of Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Sully Erna (Godsmack) and Blake Allison (Devour The Day). After posting an early demo of “Living Low” on Facebook, the song was quickly picked up by Sirius/XM Octane and several terrestrial radio stations across the USA, without any record label, promo team, or industry machine pushing the product. The music was unique, and people were responding. “It went over like gangbusters,” proclaimed Frank Pain, Program Director for KEYJ Rock 108. “One listener said, ‘This is the next generation of rock’.” This response was noticed quickly by Sony RED Music, who signed the band shortly afterwards. CODE RED RIOT’s debut album ‘MASK’ was co-produced by Gainsford and Shawn McGhee (Five Finger Death Punch, Disturbed, Papa Roach, Hellyeah), and critically-acclaimed as “an adrenaline rush with vigorous riffs, thrashing beats, and distinct vocals… leaving listeners begging for more” (Overdrive Music Magazine). Corky played all the main instruments himself (vocals, drums, bass and rhythm guitar), and recruited a fantastic guitar slinger from Minnesota, Tyler “Taz” Azure, to round out the album’s lead guitar work. The band honed their live chops while sharing the stage with Breaking Benjamin, Eagles of Death Metal, Steel Panther, Fozzy, Gemini Syndrome, and were featured as Las Vegas’ Next Big Thing at the inaugural Las Rageous Festival. Their single “Bulletproof” caught fire by landing in heavy rotation on Sirius/XM Octane and Music Choice, peaking at #28 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Indicator Chart and #14 on the Foundations (SMR) Chart. In August 2020, CODE RED RIOT began releasing its second batch of material via their new and independent imprint, Pop Cycle Records, starting with the single, “Weapon.” Co-written by Gainsford and Chris Iorio (Adelitas Way, Foundry), they describe the song as, “A hard hitting anthem of resistance and don’t-fuck-with-me bravado, purposely encapsulating the vibe of 2020.” Gainsford expands on the topic, “The struggle of life has never been more real, as economically, racially, and psychologically 2020 has brought the human condition to a crossroads we’ve never seen – or conceived possible – in this lifetime. I want CODE RED RIOT’s music to feel like an emotional catalyst for all of that.” In September 2020, they quickly followed up with “Impossible,” a single best described as “a walk through a maze of conflict, discord and discontent, that emerges on the other side stronger and unscathed.” With more singles loaded and ready to go, the band is ready to hit 2020 with its hardest and heaviest music yet, continuing with the Mission Statement they’ve held from the beginning: Be unconcerned with the latest media-defined trends and fashions, create music that’s honest and earnest material, filled with heart, soul, blood, guts, angst and relentless passion.