The Red Hot Chili Peppers continue to dominate the world when it comes to their music. The new album, the first to feature guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, made its debut at # 1 in 17 countries around the globe and in the USA hit # 2 on charts. The album, produced by music guru Rick Rubin is the bands first album since 2006. The album retains the band’s trademark sound but also sees the Peppers not afraid to add different layers of instruments and experiment with many different styles as seen in the band’s first single “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” and album opener “Monarchy of Roses.”

Vocalist Anthony Kiedis says the band is undergoing “a new beginning” while drummer Chad Smith chimes in that “this is a new band. Same name, but it’s a new band.” Highlights of the album, besides the aforementioned songs include the melodic “Brendan’s Death Song,” the hip “Ethiopia” and the rockin’ “Look Around.”

While there is nothing as powerful as Blood Sugar Sex Magik in the way of singles, the album, as a whole, stands proudly as the next bold step in the progression of the career of the Chili Peppers.