Essential Records' two time GRAMMY®-nominated hard rock outfit RED packs a potent sonic punch on its third project, Until We Have Faces, a record that leaps out of the speakers with a ferocity and complexity reflecting the band's growth and intensity.

From the opening seconds of "Feed The Machine" through the final, contemplative moments of "Hymn For The Missing," the four-man unit of singer Michael Barnes, guitarist Anthony Armstrong, bassist Randy Armstrong and drummer Joe Rickard shows both maturity and musical abandon.

The new album's overarching theme is a search for true identity, inspired by a number of sources, including author C.S. Lewis' book of similar title, Till We Have Faces. The band itself is working through its own new identity - as a four-piece with the addition of drummer Rickard.

Until We Have Faces takes listeners down the path of recognizing the hollowness of life until finding their true identity (revealed on "Faceless"), the idea of creative destruction unveiled in the midst of new life (found on "Let It Burn"), and simultaneously presenting the positive energy found even "in a world so cold" (explored on the infectious, melodic ballad "Not Alone").

Paired again with award-winning producer Rob Graves, Until We Have Faces features RED in its most musically intense place to date - "a combination of our first two records, but on steroids," Michael Barnes notes - daring both RED and its fans to catapult into new rock territories.

I got the great opportunity to interview guitarist Anthony Armstrong about RED's current single, “Faceless.”  (You can listen to our entire discussion here.) Here's what he said about the song:

Tell us about the message behind the song "Faceless."

We based the concept of the album title on the C.S. Lewis' book of similar title, Till We Have Faces. This is basically the title track. The song is the cornerstone of the new album. It's about how a person wakes up from a state of questioning themselves. The song represents someone looking at themselves and asking, "What has the world turned me into? I’m hollow, I’m empty, I’m faceless. My identity doesn’t mean anything." And the world worked its way into your life and turned you into someone you never wanted to be. Basically the song is about that realization.

The rest of the album is about what happens after you discover that the world has taken hold of you and you don’t want to be taken over by the world. As believers we are always battling the concept of worldly values working their way into our thoughts and beliefs. This song and the whole album deals with the concept of finding our true identity in Christ. Our true identity can only be revealed when Christ is revealed in us.

Do you have a life verse or any Bible verses you think goes with the song?

1 John 1: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."

What's the take-away message for listeners regarding the song?

As believers, we get into the Word of God and our faith allows us to believe the truth. God’s plan and God’s timing is perfect. God tells us that our true identity will be revealed when He is revealed in [us]. We thought that was a really strong biblical concept and we felt that we could write songs about so many points that come from that book of the Bible. We based the entire album on the Book of 1 John.

Here are the lyrics:

A voice screaming from within
Begging just to feel again
Can’t find who I am without You near me
I’d give anything to live, ‘cause without You I don’t exist
You’re the only One who saves me from myself
I abandoned this love and laid it to rest and now I'm one of the forgotten

I’m not, I’m not myself
Feel like I’m someone else
Fallen and faceless
So hollow, hollow inside
A part of me is dead
Need You to live again
Can You replace this?
I’m hollow, hollow and faceless

Shadows growing in my mind
Ones I just can’t leave behind
I’m not strong enough to pay this ransom
One more monster crawled inside
But I swear I saw it die
Can You save me from the nothing I’ve become?
I abandoned this love and laid it to rest
And now I'm one of the forgotten

We are the faceless
We are the nameless
We are the hopeless
Until we have faces

I’m not, I’m not myself
Feel like I’m someone else
Fallen and faceless
So hollow, hollow inside
A part of me is dead
Need You to live again
Can You replace this?
I’m hollow, hollow and faceless

Here’s Matthew Henry’s commentary on 1 John 1:6-10: “All who walk near to God, in holiness and righteousness, are sensible that their best days and duties are mixed with sin. God has given testimony to the sinfulness of the world, by providing a sufficient, effectual Sacrifice for sin, needed in all ages; and the sinfulness of believers themselves is shown, by requiring them continually to confess their sins, and to apply by faith to the blood of that Sacrifice. Let us plead guilty before God, be humble, and willing to know the worst of our case. Let us honestly confess all our sins in their full extent, relying wholly on his mercy and truth through the righteousness of Christ, for a free and full forgiveness, and our deliverance from the power and practice of sin.”

"Faceless" has quickly become my all-time favorite song by this incredible band. I’ve been constantly singing the chorus, “I’m not, I’m not myself, Feel like I’m someone else, Fallen and faceless, So hollow, hollow inside, A part of me is dead, Need You to live again, Can You replace this? I’m hollow, hollow and faceless.” When I’m watching what’s going on around me, I sometimes get caught up in all the hype of the world, or get obsessed or depressed about worldly values. What I love about this song is that it includes the biblical truth “You’re the only One who saves me from myself.” We all need to remember that we’re not able to save ourselves, only Jesus can give us our true identity.