Third Time’s A Charm isn’t just a saying anymore, it’s a fact.
Vegas’ pop-punk partridge family Crimson Riot releases their most recent album Third Time’s A Charm on Friday, March 20th via Leg Lamp Records. Now, without getting too mushy and personal, I’ve followed the trio for over a decade now through their other musical projects before Crimson Riot formed in 2017. The first two albums Classy Punk for Trashy People and It Took an Apocalypse have been on my regular rotation since their releases, but Third Time’s A Charm has quickly taken over as the best album yet in my opinion.
From the second the title track kicks off, the maturity of these songs, both lyrically and musically, shines through. You literally feel the work that Roxy, Chris, and Ryan put in to create this one. Now, I want to be clear that I’m not saying the first two albums lacked in these things, but much like anything else you work hard at, you’re eventually going to get even better at it. Third Time’s A Charm is not giving you a sweet treat break that you may have found in songs like “Here’s the Bad News Laura” or “The Oi Song”.
Getting into the album itself, Third Time’s A Charm kicks off with a song of the same name tackling the feeling of putting your art out to the world and battling what I call a tiny bitch brain fueled with self-doubt. Will people like this? Is it worth it to do this? Yes, absolutely. The back and forth with yourself is something I think all of us who create music for other people battle with.
Being in my mid to late 30s at this point, “Mold Age” hit home way more than I care to admit. Let’s just say, the two Michelob Ultras that I can barely handle are never worth the hangover. Do we ever learn our lessons when it comes to still trying to act like we are in our 20s? It certainly doesn’t seem like it.
Let’s get into the singles…
I was fortunate enough to help out with photography for the behind the scenes of the filming of the band’s first single and video from this record, “Cross the Line”. Have you ever had that one friend that you give your all to even though you know better? This is it. I actually told Roxy after listening to the song over… and over… AND OVER that this one left me in tears because of the fact that I completely relate. The line that hits the hardest? “I was easy to string along. You fueled the fire that is taking this bridge down.” Chills, I’m telling you. Fucking chills. We’ve all felt like we need to repent or kick ourselves for giving someone in our life way too many chances (many of which were undeserved). “Cross the Line” is the ultimate “no good deed goes unpunished” track, and it’s been my constant earworm for months now. Entering your villain era? This one is for you.
“State of Despair” is the second single and video from the band fronted by Chris. You can feel the Bad Religion influence in this song. If you’re pissed off at the state of the world, then this is going to be your anthem. Throw away your Anti-Flag records (if you haven’t already) and put American Idiot by Green Day to the back of your mind. We’re in 2026 now, and “State of Despair” is the new rally cry for those around the world who are tired of the government pissing on our backs and telling us it’s just rain.
Now back to the rest of the album. One of the really cool things about Third Time’s A Charm is how you can hear each member’s influence on each track. “Here’s to You” is a fun ska song featuring members of Buck-O-Nine and Lo(u)ser, thanking the supporters who helped the band out during the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown. Crimson Riot was the first band in Vegas I saw take to things like Facebook Live and Twitch to keep the party going. By giving fans something to enjoy and breakup the monotony of our Tiger King Netflix binges and getting fat on junk food, the fans gave back, and this love letter is perfect.
“My Story” is another one that made me cry when I first heard it. I promise Roxy doesn’t make me cry as often as I mention in this article. “My Story” gives you insight into the life of Roxy and the hardships we all deal with in life, not only as musicians, but as people in the spotlight. We all want to see the polished and pretty versions of people we know, but the lyrics of this one show the peeled back, raw, vulnerable version of the rosey haired punk gal we’ve all come to know and love. Even as someone who has considered Crimson Riot as individual people friends, this one hit hard simply because I hadn’t even seen this side of Roxy before. It’s songs like this on the record that are the reason why I mentioned the maturity and growth.
Enough of my rambling. The record comes out on Friday, March 20th, and the band will be doing their album release party at 8 pm over at Grey Witch in Henderson, NV. As soon as this is available to listen to, I highly recommend it. Go to the show if you can. Crimson Riot doesn’t pigeonhole themselves into just one base line of punk, which I appreciate. I want variety. I don’t want the same thing over and over, because it becomes stale, and Third Time’s A Charm is anything but stale. It lives up to the classic saying, because this is the best Crimson Riot record yet.
Crimson Riot is: Roxy Gunn (vocals/guitar), Chris Reject (bass/vocals), and Ryan J (drums)
PHOTO CREDIT: Promotional Photos of Crimson Riot by Stephy Muzio