What makes Critical Mass by Ra notable?

Critical Mass marked a significant return for Ra after a five-year hiatus, generating attention through its blend of genres. The album demonstrated commercial promise by charting on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums list, showcasing the band's resilience and ability to adapt in a changing musical landscape. Released on October 24, 2013, Critical Mass is Ra's fourth studio album, following the 2008 release of Black Sun. At this point in their career, Ra was striving to maintain relevance in the alternative metal scene while experimenting with new musical styles and electronic influences.

Who is Critical Mass for?

Critical Mass works well if you're into introspective melodies with aggression, dynamic soundscapes for exploration and short bursts of energetic tracks.

How many songs are on Critical Mass?

Critical Mass has 13 tracks, running approximately 53 minutes.

Released 13 years ago this October

Critical Mass

Ra · 2013

53 min · 13 tracks · hard rock

A fusion of hard rock and electronic elements creates a dynamic soundscape that balances aggression with introspective melodies.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Brutiful — Opening with aggressive riffs and anthemic choruses, this track sets the tone for the album’s exploration of emotional intensity and personal struggles.
→
Supermegadubstep — This track exemplifies the band's willingness to incorporate electronic elements into their hard rock foundation, making it a standout moment of experimentation.
→
Crawling to the Sky — With its haunting melodies and introspective lyrics, this track provides a reflective pause amidst the heavier instrumentation found throughout the album.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

introspective melodies with aggression
dynamic soundscapes for exploration
short bursts of energetic tracks
cathartic moments of release

Maybe skip if you

prefer calm, soothing music
seek lengthy, immersive experiences

Where this album fits

Career context: Released on October 24, 2013, Critical Mass is Ra's fourth studio album, following the 2008 release of Black Sun. At this point in their career, Ra was striving to maintain relevance in the alternative metal scene while experimenting with new musical styles and electronic influences.
Stylistic neighbors: Breaking Benjamin· Three Days Grace· P.O.D.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

It's All over Now

The verse shifts abruptly from past memories to a stark acceptance of loss, creating a powerful contrast in emotion.

This structural pivot highlights the tension between nostalgia and reality, emphasizing the themes of closure that permeate the album.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Brutiful 5:19
2 Awake 3:55
3 Supermegadubstep 3:48
4 It's All over Now 4:48
5 Anything U Want 3:51
6 Won't Be Home Tonight 4:14
7 Running Blind 4:46
8 A Hollow Glow 2:06
9 Ecstacy 3:49
10 Tragic Empire 3:24
11 The Voice Inside My Head 4:38
12 Through the Valley 5:50
13 Crawling to the Sky 3:31

What to play next

Listen next

Intercorrupted

2021

Go back to

Black Sheep

2009

Full Ra discography Artists like Ra

alternative metal hard rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata