REVIEW: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - X's For Eyes

Two decades in, and THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS are still setting hearts and speakers on fire. With hits like Face Down and Your Guardian Angel, they became voices for a generation, blending anthemic rock with socially conscious themes. Now, with X’s For Eyes, THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS return with a record that reflects their journey and proves they still have something to say - full of urgency, emotion, and soaring hooks.

They kick things off with a bang. Always The King is a commanding collaboration with KELLIN QUINN of SLEEPING WITH SIRENS. Two voices that defined an era collide, trading grit and grace across verses that surge with energy. “Still got love for the hometown”, the band reflects - a line that captures loyalty and the fire that still drives them forward. From the first note, the album feels alive, regal, and self-assured. That momentum flows into Purple Halo, where twilight-shimmering guitars and haunting vocals give way to a chorus that bursts with anthemic intensity, leaving traces of melancholy and wonder. Expansive yet intimate, it perfectly balances mood and momentum.

Then comes a moment of introspection. Perfection examines the cost of chasing impossible ideals. RONNIE WINTER’s restless vocals thread through verses steeped in self-doubt, exploding into choruses that feel like exhalations - imperfection embraced, honesty amplified. The title track hits like a storm breaking over jagged cliffs. Jagged guitars collide with WINTER’s raw, visceral vocals, crafting a sound that’s urgent and cathartic. Lyrically, it meditates on deception, emotional exposure, and the cost of seeing the world—or yourself - too clearly. By the chorus, the intensity is impossible to ignore.

Swagger and hooks arrive next. Bad Beat is a gambling metaphor turned rock anthem, striding with attitude and punchy riffs. Then comes Slipping Through (No Kings), a previously released track that distills THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS' layered, anthemic sound and lingering sense of urgency, its soaring refrains echoing the fragility of control and connection.

Soft edges and cinematic storytelling follow on from this, as Home Improvement masks heartbreak in clever renovation metaphors, while Twenty Hour Drive is a restless, road-worn anthem pulsing with motion and freedom. Kins and Carroll continues the cinematic thread, painting a corner of the world with specificity and nostalgia, making the personal universal.

The album closes with strength and reflection. Getting By condenses survival into melody, acknowledging exhaustion without resignation and carrying quiet resilience in every note. Finally, Worth It closes the record on affirmation, tender yet resolute - a celebration of scars, struggles, and victories alike. Every song, lyric, and chord feels intentional, a reminder that everything endured has been worth it.

X’s For Eyes proves that THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS remain a band of substance and stamina, capable of turning vulnerability into power, melody into movement, and honesty into anthems. Two decades in, they are still not just surviving - they’re thriving, and this album is proof that their fire burns brighter than ever.

Score: 9/10

X's For Eyes was released on October 3rd 2025.

Words: Mia Gailey

Photos: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus