Las Vegas Punk Trio Crimson Riot Release Powerful Protest Anthem “State Of Despair”

Las Vegas punk rock trio Crimson Riot return with their most urgent and uncompromising single to date. “State Of Despair,” out February 20, is the second single from the band’s forthcoming full-length album Third Time’s A Charm, arriving March 20, 2026 via Leg Lamp Records.

https://youtu.be/mJUtPGDYHz4?si=PjxhN4insDBCMWYl

Blistering, confrontational, and fueled by conviction, “State Of Despair” finds Crimson Riot channeling frustration and clarity into a fast, melodic punk anthem that refuses to sit quietly in the face of rising division. The band initially planned the song as a later single, but current events pushed them to release it now — unapologetically and without compromise.

“This track was originally scheduled to be our fourth single off ‘Third Time’s A Charm,’ but with what is happening in the United States currently, we could not sit by and stay silent,” the band explains. “For years we’ve watched hate and division be celebrated, and citizens’ rights trampled by those creating that division. We have a voice and we choose to use it. This is no longer about left or right — it’s about morals.”

“Our message is clear: we are against sexism, bigotry, racism, and fascism. If you believe in any of these things, we are not the band for you. Real change starts when real people run for office and take power back from corporations. We choose to stand on the right side of history, even if it costs us fans.”

Formed in 2017 and famously dubbed the “Punk Rock Partridge Family” by iHeartRadio’s Bobby Bones, Crimson Riot is made up of guitarist/vocalist Roxy Gunn, bassist/vocalist Chris Reject, and drummer Ryan J — Roxy’s father. Though officially a Las Vegas band, the trio has been playing together for over 15 years, creating a chemistry that’s both tight and explosive.

“State Of Despair” continues the momentum building toward Third Time’s A Charm, Crimson Riot’s most focused and fully realized album to date. The twelve-song LP balances blistering, confrontational punk with more melodic and reflective moments, featuring guest appearances from members of Buck-O-Nine and Lo(u)ser. The record also marks the band’s first-ever vinyl release.

Their previous single “Cross The Line” received early airplay on Rodney Bingenheimer’s show on Little Steven’s Underground Garage and on 92.3 KOMP’s Homegrown Show in Las Vegas, while New Noise Magazine praised the band as “rip-roaring punk with a driving energy that demonstrates the band’s fiery passion and precise delivery.”

“‘Third Time’s A Charm’ is our appropriately named third album and probably some of our best work,” says Roxy Gunn. “We really dug into the recording process and focused on achieving a big, full sound without going over the top. This is the album that stands out. Third time’s a charm.”

Upcoming Shows
March 20, 2026 – Grey Witch – Henderson, NV – Album Release Show – 8PM – 21+
Spring Tour – TBA

Las Vegas Punk Trio Crimson Riot Announce New Album ‘Third Time’s A Charm’; Watch Video For “Cross The Line”

Las Vegas punk rock trio Crimson Riot are back with their most focused, ambitious, and fully realized release to date. Their third full-length album, Third Time’s A Charm, arrives March 20, 2026 via Leg Lamp Records, with the first single and music video, “Cross The Line,” dropping today.

Formed in 2017 and famously dubbed the “Punk Rock Partridge Family” by iHeartRadio’s Bobby Bones, Crimson Riot is made up of guitarist/vocalist Roxy Gunn, bassist/vocalist Chris Reject, and drummer Ryan J — Roxy’s father. While the band officially formed in Las Vegas in 2017, the trio has been playing music together for over 15 years, resulting in a chemistry that’s both natural and explosive.

Crimson Riot’s sound blends heavy, fast, catchy, and melodic punk anthems with a wide range of punk-influenced styles. Their debut album, Classy Punk For Trashy People, received a massive global pre-order response and earned a 10/10 from The Pop Break. The band followed that momentum with their 2020 sophomore release It Took An Apocalypse on Die Laughing Records — a fittingly titled album inspired by being signed during the height of the pandemic.

Now, Third Time’s A Charm finds Crimson Riot digging deeper than ever before. The twelve-song album spans blistering, confrontational punk and lighter, more reflective moments — from the heavy, fast-paced “Cross The Line,” which takes aim at fair-weather friends and industry gatekeepers, to the poppier “Mold Age,” a meditation on aging and holding onto youthfulness. The record also features “Here’s To You,” with guest appearances from members of Buck-O-Nine and Lo(u)ser, an anthem dedicated to the fans and supporters who stood by the band during the COVID era.

“‘Third Time’s A Charm’ is our appropriately named third album and the title is kind of an ode to our efforts to make this what it is, which is probably some of our best work,” says Roxy Gunn. “We really dug into the recording process of this record and researched how best to achieve the sound we wanted. We were looking for that big, fill-your-entire-speaker sound without going too over the top. I think we definitely got it. This is the album that stands out. Third time’s a charm!”

The album marks a shift in approach for the southern Nevada trio, with a major focus on fullness, detail, and atmosphere. Small sonic flourishes are layered throughout the record, adding personality and reinforcing the emotional weight of each song, while nostalgia plays a central role in both the music and lyrics.

The lead single “Cross The Line” is a raw, cathartic statement born from years navigating the entertainment industry:

“Our first single ‘Cross The Line’ is an emotional spillover of years of being in the entertainment industry,” Gunn explains. “Trusting people you shouldn’t; taking advice from someone that pretends they have all the answers just to leave you in the dust… This song is what comes out when you’re tired of doing most of the backscratching and the favor is rarely returned. This is my ‘I made my own table’ moment.”

The accompanying music video — filmed and edited by Chris Reject — was shot in December at the home of renowned Las Vegas pyrotechnician Antonio Restivo, known locally as the Black Dragon in Tournament of Kings. Inspired by the lyric “You fueled the fire that is taking this bridge down,” the video features real flames surrounding the band and stands as their most ambitious visual to date, reportedly burning through nearly seven gallons of fuel during filming.

https://youtu.be/7tx6XhLAKOc?si=khcZGg1R7gxSdz6X

“Cross The Line” has already received early airplay on Rodney Bingenheimer’s show on Little Steven’s Underground Garage and on 92.3 KOMP’s Homegrown Show in Las Vegas.

Upcoming Shows

• February 14, 2026 – Red Dwarf – Las Vegas, NV – 9PM – Free – 21+
• March 20, 2026 – Grey Witch – Henderson, NV – Album Release Show – 8PM – 21+
• Spring Tour – TBA

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