Crimson Riot Releases Poignant Pop-Punk Gem with Third Time’s a Charm

LAS VEGAS, NV – Crimson Riot - the Vegas-based, 3-piece punk outfit consisting of Roxy Gunn, Chris Reject and Ryan J have been pumping out pop-punk music that bleeds 90’s heyday vibes since 2017.

They have previously released two albums chock-full of crowd pleasers to date, but their brand new EP Third Times a Charm seems more polished, more timely and more passionate than ever.

Maybe that’s because this band has seen their fair share of ups and downs while being working musicians for the better part of a decade.

The new album was recorded at Ice House Recording Studios in Lake Havasu as all their past records have been with producer Steve Yates and mixing and mastering by Michael Tucker. It is released on Leg Lamp Records which marks the first release on this new label.

I have personally gotten to know this band over the past 5 years or so, and I have been a huge fan from the first time I saw them play live.

When I ran through this album the first time, I thought, “Holy hell, these songs are tight as hell, and sound great.”

There are so many fun elements in this album such as the “Blink-like” guitar intro on “Mold Age” or the backing harmonies that inspire pop-punk nostalgia. 

Also check the chaotic introduction on “Red Flag” that shows how good the timing and production of the album are.

I really enjoyed the added elements with horns and other added vocals on songs like “Here’s to You” as well. The song features members of Buck-o-Nine and Lo(u)ser in support.

If you are a fan of punk drumming there are so many great moments on this album that keep my ear hooked to the percussion for longer than I probably should pay attention (kudos, Ryan J).

My personal favorites so far are “Decades Past”, “Here's to You”, “Cross the Line” and “State of Despair.”

You can check out the brand new music video for “Cross the Line” here, and make sure to check out the album when it is released on March 20th, 2026 (pre-order starts February 1st).

Order your copy of Third Time's A Charm here - https://crimsonriot.com/

I was able to ask the band a few questions about their new work, and this is how it went:

Question: What song meant the most to put onto Third Time’s a Charm and why?

Chris - Honestly every song. We’ve been sitting on the songs for years and now to finally have them come out means a lot. If I have to pick one song, I’d have to be biased and say “State of Despair.” It was the last song we wrote, and it literally came together in maybe 2 days. But every song has a special place in our heart.

Roxy - I don’t think one particular song is more important than another. All of the songs are raw, honest, and true representations of how we were feeling about certain things at the time of writing. Previously we’ve used creative “tongue in cheek” lyrics but these songs are more straight forward, no sugar coating. I feel like all of them are important because they’re us in our purest form.

Question: A few political songs on here. The message seems pretty clear. Anything you would like to directly say about your views on the state of "despair" in this country?

Chris - (laughing) Yeah we got slightly more political, but we’ve always been and anyone who hasn’t figured that out hasn’t been listening. For me I’ve always been very vocal about my beliefs. I have a degree in political science so I kinda know what I’m talking about hahaha. The message we have is that the only way to make real change in this country is to stop allowing billionaires to control our government. 

We need to eliminate the RNC and DNC. No corporation should run our government. We need really people with real ideas to start running for office. We the people need to start making the change.

Question: What do you hope people will get out of listening to this album?

Roxy - I hope that, when people hear this album, they feel like they know us better. Whether it be someone who has listened to us for years or someone hearing us for the first time. Within that, I also hope that people find these songs relatable. 

We’re all living on this giant rock spinning in space and these songs represent, not just our own personal stories, but stories and experiences of others that are navigating this existence as best they can.

Question: How are you guys feeling about your first vinyl release?

Chris - Beyond excited. We’ve been wanting to release a vinyl version for years. This is the best album to be the first vinyl release.

Roxy - Having our first vinyl release is like a breath of fresh air! Before we even recorded the album we knew we were going to press records. It was something that we felt was always missing so it feels great to have it after all this time. 

Seeing the amazing artwork on the cover (thank you Jonny from Kids on Fire!) and the photo on the back (thank you Stephy from The Minges!) in large, vinyl sleeve form makes it even better. It feels like a work of art all the way around.