by Mark DemingBoston-based death metal/grindcore outfit the Red Chord combine a crushing rhythmic assault and guitar patterns that bite like a circular saw with the menacing but intelligent lyrics and furious vocals of frontman Guy Kozowyk. Formed in 1999, the band earned a reputation on the New England metal scene for their uncompromising sound and style and they were offered a one-off album deal with the independent label Robotic Activities. 2002's Fused Together in Revolving Doors was recorded in a mere three days, but the results were strong enough to win them many new fans, and the band was able to spend more time on their second album, 2005's Clients. Clients was a concept album inspired by Kozowyk's day job working at a pharmacy, where a number of disturbed and eccentric individuals would come in regularly to refill prescriptions, with each song telling the story of a different "client." Originally released through Black Markey Activities, the well-respected metal label run by Kozowyk and former bassist Adam Wentworth, Clients was later reissued through Metal Blade Records, who signed the group to a record deal (and arranged to distribute some of BMA's releases). The Red Chord toured with High on Fire, Hatebreed, GWAR, Between the Buried and Me, and Every Time I Die, and were part of the lineup for the 2006 edition of Ozzfest. Before the Red Chord could return to the studio to record their third album, guitarist Johnny Fay left the group to devote more time to his burgeoning career as a recording engineer. With the new lineup in place of Kozowyk on vocals, Mike "Gunface" McKenzie and Mike Keller on guitars, Greg Weeks on bass, and Brad Fickeisen on drums, the Red Chord set out on tour in anticipation of the release of Prey for Eyes on July 24, 2007.