Rock ‘n’ rollers Tuk Smith & the Restless Hearts are pleased to share a string of 2026 tour dates this summer. The 7-date stint will see them kick things off at Maid Of Stone festival before taking in the sights of London, Southampton, Wolverhampton, Leeds, Glasgow, and an as-yet-unannounced show. This follows a busy 2025 from the band, touring with Danko Jones and blessing Planet Rockstock with their Nashville-tinged melodies and riffs!
Mr Smith himself shared:
“I’ve always had a special place in my heart for the UK ever since I first started playing here a decade ago with my previous band. This is my first proper UK tour as a solo artist and I’m just as excited now as I was back then!”
In case you missed it, Tuk also put out an incredible EP just last year! We loved it, and you want to buy it, find it here!
Tuk Smith is the kind of rock ’n’ roll ambassador you didn’t think existed anymore. Punk maverick from rural Georgia, Biters frontman, producer and solo artist, he’s seen the best and worst of a music industry in constant flux. By turns it’s left him critically acclaimed, poised for stadiums, dropped, burned out, back in the game and beloved by those for whom rock is still everything. Now based in Nashville, and with his own label Gypsy Rose Records, he creates from a more real place than most.
“I want to do something that means something to people,” Tuk says, “because a lot of shit nowadays is so disposable and so plastic. I just don’t connect with that. I’d like to do things that impact people positively. It’s a weird time on the planet, so to have songs about hope, but not be cheesy about it, it’s something I think we need with songwriting. That’s the kind of music I want to hear.”
Again, there’s that dichotomy he speaks of. “Rock ’n’ roll is essentially the illusion of not giving a fuck, right? Like, you know Axl Rose was doing sit-ups and jump rope, and Paul Stanley was on a cardio machine, and they come out and act like it just happens. The point is I sit at that piano many hours, working on this stuff.”
We had the pleasure of chatting to the amazing southern rockers Otis the other week about their recent single, plans for 2026 and what they make of the UK. Check it out below!
How would you describe your sound?
Oh yeah man, we get thrown into the blues and classic rock pot, as well as the Southern one! It’s kinda weird for us, the Southern rock thing, because really all rock comes from the south. Little Richard, Elvis… it took this combination of gospel and blues and standardised country music to make all those things happen. But we’re grateful for anybody who listens to us and they can call us whatever they want!
We’re happy to do it. And we’ve really been welcomed into the classic rock community. We’ve spent a good amount of time playing with bands like Foreigner and Cheep Trick and UFO. On the Southern rock side we’ve played with Wet Willie and members of the Almond Brothers… we’ve been very lucky that the older guys have seen the spark in us and said to come out with them and learn the ropes!
I feel like genres blend a lot more these days. You can fit into all sorts and people are a bit more open-minded about it!
Yeah, absolutely! Especially in the UK and EU, it seems more welcoming to loose Classic rock bands. In America, at least radio-wise, you had a rock hit 30 years ago, or you’re more active rock like Shinedown or Nickelback. But for what we’re doing, we’re kinda in that in-between place and they don’t know what to do with us on the radio over here!
You’ve just returned with a new single, right?
We have! We released a song called ‘I’m Wicked’ on February 5th. We won Classic Rock Magazine’s track of the week when it came out! There was tough competition so we really appreciate people getting in there and voting!
So far so good, people really seem to be enjoying the song! Last weekend was the first time we got to play it live so that was a lot of fun!
I know it’s been a couple of years since you put out a single, what prompted new music now?
Man, we were going wide open ‘till about 2020. Then I had thyroid cancer, I had to get it removed and take radiation treatment, and the original guitarist for the band went over to play bass for Black Stone Cherry, and the drummer wanted to stay home and do the family thing. So, we brought two new guys into the band and started touring and releasing music again in 2023. We released ‘There’s a Break in the Road’ in 2023, ‘Last Fool in the Line’ in 2024, didn’t release anything last year but released ‘I’m Wicked’ this year.
It’s good to get some new music out there, and we’re working to try and get a full release out! Doing all the behind the scenes business stuff to make that happen. People seem to really be digging what we’re doing, so we want to get some new music out!
That was going to be my next question! Are you looking for end of the year for a longer release?
That would be great! We don’t really have a date down yet but it’s something that we’re working on. All the music we love listening to is in album format, and it’s kinda hard to release music in the single format because people only get a little glimpse of what you’re able to do. When you put a record on and you listen to it front-to-back you get a really clear picture of what a band is about.
I have found it’s so much effort to keep up with the crazy single release schedule Spotify wants you to do these days, there’s so much that goes into each release.
Oh man, it’s exhausting! And really expensive, too! Ideally they want you to release a song every three months or so to keep the numbers where they need to be. At a point you have to look at yourself and go ‘am I putting out music out at the right pace for me and for the right reasons, or just keep the numbers happy?’. We always want to serve the music and put out the best thing we can, but you do have to kinda play the game sadly.
What’s the writing process like for you guys?
We’re a get in the room and hash it out kinda band. I may have a riff or some lyrics or an idea but I try not to develop it too far because once the other three guys get a hold of what’s going on it always changes into something far better than I’d have gotten to on my own! A lot of times I do end up using that root idea, but they manage to take it somewhere completely unexpected, which is a lot of fun. We all feed off each other during the writing process just like we do live. I think that’s the cool thing about being a band over being an artist, you can showcase that. With bands that we love like Humble Pie and Faces, it’s that interaction between those players live in a room that makes it so unique!
I imagine it’s still a nice groove writing with the newer band members?
Oh yeah, I think this lineup of the band, our songwriting has really improved. The two new guys, they’re so energetic and they were into what the band was doing beforehand, and then ended up being in the band, so it gives them even more of a renewed energy!
You’re right in the middle of a run of shows, right?
Yeah, tomorrow actually [at the time of recording] we’re playing with a band called The Damn Shames and Nigel Dupree. This will be a lot of fun as I’ve known Nigel, son of Jesse James Dupree of Jackyl. I’ve never got to see him play, and he’s never seen me play! Then we have a show in Ohio, so the touring’s kicking up for us! We’re still doing the weekend thing, which works for us as a lot who see us are blue-collar people, they can’t really swing going out on a Tuesday night. We’re weekend rock’n’roll warriors!
Have you got a busy rest of the year planned?
Yeah, there’s new shows coming in every day, so from now until November we’re gonna be hitting it! Hopefully some time to get back to the studio and get some songs down and get this record out!
Do you have any plans to come back to the UK any time soon?
Yeah, we’ve been over twice and really enjoyed our time, we’d love to come back! It’s just finding the right opportunity and make as much of an impact as we can while there. It’s tricky; we wanna go everywhere and see everybody but it’s hard to do! We wanna do festival stuff and club stuff, we’ll eventually make it happen. I know people want to see us!
Have you got any comparisons you can make of the scene here compared to back home?
For us we feel a lot more respect when we come over and play for y’all. There’s so much to compete with over here, with people on their phone or watching the game, but over there people just have a greater reverence for live music. Not that people don’t enjoy it over here, I guess our type of music is just something that doesn’t get seen as often over there. So we feel very respected when we come over there!
A typically stacked week of new releases for us to check out, from rock to metal to country. Let’s dive right in!
The Black Crowes: A Pound of Feathers
Owen: Following a 10 or so year hiatus, A Pound of Feathers is the third album in as many years for The Black Crowes. After almost 40 years in the industry, various member changes and 30 million albums sold, the group still sound like they are in their prime. ‘Profane Prophecy’ opens the album and sets the scene for everything that follows; upbeat, riff-heavy and well placed cowbell. A blend of southern soul and classic blues rock with high energy and good helping of attitude from frontman Chris Robinson.
While the tone is consistent throughout, there is space for a couple of outliers. ‘Pharmacy Chronicles’ drops the wailing guitars for a slower acoustic sound, backed up by a slide guitar and a bright piano, the track standing proudly as a southern country rock ballad. ‘High & Lonesome’ is another track that feels like a departure from the rest of the album to show us yet another side of The Black Crowes, this time falling into a 60’s beat with some abstract glam rock influences of the same era. Overall, A Pound of Feathers is a strong collection of tracks proving once again the Robinson brothers and company are still here nearly 40 years on for good reason 9/10
Lamb of God: Into Oblivion
We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read the full review here.
Avery Anna: forgive, forget.
The follow-up to her huge sophomore album last year, this is a great six tracks of moody radio-country music. Opening on yet another collaboration with her close friend Sam Barber, somewhat controversially it’s probably my least favourite track on the release. Following track, the rockier ‘Man Downstairs’, and the 2000s country ‘Life Ain’t Like the Radio’ are much better, in this writers opinion. And the riffing on the out-and-out southern/blues rock ‘Blood Runs Thicker’ is amazing, and her vocals and lyrics fit perfectly over the top. Stuff like that is far better than her vaguely older-Olivia Rodrigo or Sabrina Carpenter slower, moodier stuff. They’re still good songs, but didn’t catch my ear anywhere near as much.
Because of this, it very much leads to an EP of two halves. Three of the tracks I absolutely adore, and the other three I can kinda take or leave. The slower, pop-oriented tracks aren’t bad, and will probably do better for her than the others, but I find the upbeat ones much more interesting. Heck, it almost feels like she had a better time writing/recording them, too. It will be a release I’ll revisit because of a few tracks, and hopefully the others grow on me with more listens. But, for now, I can’t give it any higher than a 7/10. Still, if you like country, this is well worth a try!
Ravenspell: Obsidian King
Max: I don’t really have too much to say about this one. It’s decent, not great not bad. Its fine and unoffensive. I should probably say I’m not really the biggest fan of power metal or similar genres, but for a bands first full length album, coming in at 40 minutes, this is really pretty decent. It is polished and well produced and recorded. The solos, as is common with this music, and definitely a highlight. However, the best parts, in my opinion, were actually the riffs that were a bit chunkier and galloping. then brought a lot of energy. Probably my biggest issue with this album was that it didn’t seem unique, it felt very middle of the road and similar to other albums in the genre. That’s not bad, if anything it gives more room for them to explore and try something different and a bit more adventurous later on. 5.5/10
The Fray: A Light That Waits
Those guys that did ‘How to Save a Life’ some two decades ago have put out four studio albums since then, but this is their first in over 12 years! It’s also the first release since the departure of their original vocalist, Isaac Slade, in 2022. So, to say this could be a make or break album for them may be an understatement!
Honestly, it impressed me a lot more than I expected it to! The opener/title track is excellent, reminding me of the perfect blend of James Bay, Kings of Leon, and Kip Moore. Then you have tracks like ‘Ice Cold Lakes’ and ‘Tasted Glory’ that are also big personal highlights. It made me nostalgic for the sort of sound that was big in their hay day, a sound that sadly isn’t nearly as popular the last decade. Don’t get me wrong, 35-minutes of slowish, similar sounding music did get a bit much for me and my tiny attention span around the halfway mark, but all of it was still damn good music. Each track in isolation is great, and it fits together perfectly on the release. Joe King (lol) makes for a damn good lead vocalist, and really feels like he is leading the now-trio into a new chapter of their careers. And I for one am excited to hear where they go from here. For now though, I’d say this is easily their best release since their 2009 self-titled output, and it gets a solid 7.5/10 from me!
Roswell Road: Rebel Joy
This beautiful combination of folk, indie and Americana is pretty damn amazing for a debut album! The female duo have been building up to the release for the last two years with a total of six singles, culminating in this nearly-40-minute collection of incredible harmonies, lyrics and instrumentation. While not typically my sort of sound usually, I couldn’t help but get lost in this, the pair’s talent on full display throughout. The opener featuring the equally-great Dunwells is a huge high point of the release, alongside ‘Can’t Take my Soul’. It’s a great album to throw on and chill-out to, while still having plenty of weight and emotion at the same time. The pair have a very bright future ahead of them, and if you are at all into the sort of style I’ve mentioned above, this is well worth giving a spin! It’s another I will probably revisit if I ever want something more relaxed, and it may grow on me more then. However, for now, a solid 6.5/10 from us.
Angus McSix: …And the All-Seeing Astral Eye
We’ve also checked out this great release! Read our love for it here.
The Scratch: Pull Like a Dog
Album number four from the modern folk-metallers isn’t at all what I expected heading into it, but I enjoyed it a lot all the same! It’s like the other side of the folk-metal coin. There are plenty of bands that incorporate folk instruments into a metal sound, usually more of a traditional heavy or power metal style. I haven’t known really any band to just play straight up folk or bluegrass music but just transposed to distorted and ‘rock’ instrumentation. That is, until now! And, the fact that they have toured with the likes of Dropkicks and Dermot Kennedy should outline exactly what I’m talking about, as they are incredibly fitting supports for both. It makes for a fascinating listen, and a style that I got into more and more as the release went on. It almost makes it as much hardcore as anything else at times, which I am more than down with. And somehow, the Irish accent adds even more anger and attitude to it when it gets to that point.
‘Pullin’ Teeth’ is a massive early highlight, with Kevin Rheault adding even more greatness to the sound. Then you have tracks like ‘Mother of God’ and ‘Horsefly’ that are also great songs in their own right. The whole album is damn interesting though, and quirky enough to keep me hooked from start to finish. They are all clearly talented musicians and there is nothing out there even remotely like this. If you are at all interested, I’d highly recommend checking this out, you may end up loving it! It’s growing on me more with every listen, but for now it still gets a solid 8/10!
Joey Frendo: Harder Than Dreaming
This is a fun, chilled-out soft Southern rock album! From the incredible lyrics to the powerful, emotion-filled vocal delivery, and the excellent, fitting instrumentation behind it all, it’s all so well written and performed. From ‘First Band’ and the title track to the slightly more up-beat ‘Wings of a Song’ and the brass-heavy ‘Back to You’, there’s so much to love. However, there really isn’t a bad track throughout, 40 minutes going by in a flash! He’s a name that should be bigger by this point, but hopefully this sophomore album pushes him to new heights. He certainly has a new fan in me, that’s for sure! If you are at all a fan of the slower side of country/rock, this is definitely an album worth checking out. I’ll certainly be spinning it again, especially when it comes to summer time, and it gets a solid 7/10 from us!
Sweet Pill: Still There’s a Glow
Owen: Still There’s a Glow is the second studio album from Philadelphia-based Sweet Pill. It used to be cliché to compare any emo/punk band with a female vocalist to Paramore in some way but listening to Sweet Pill’s latest release leaves me little option. Whether intentional or not, various tracks from ‘Still There’s a Glow’ would have sit happily on Riot! Or Brand New Eyes. Despite the similarities, Sweet Pill are sure to make their own stamp on the genre and aren’t afraid to lean into an even heavier sound at points; vocals turn briefly to screams and the rest of the band can follow suit. Tracks like ‘Slow burn’ and ‘Smoke Screen’ show where Sweet Pill’s sound can change and evolve. For only the second album from a relatively new band this album is an impressive addition to what is sure to be a progressive and long-lasting discography. 8.5/10
Big Band of Boom: Self-Titled
This is a wild release! Being a blend of big-band brass and ska, punk and metal, it’s certainly unique. And, it won me over immediately, having me hooked from the start to the very end! The opening one-two-punch of ‘Stupid Filthy Rich’ into single ‘Earthquake’ is incredible. ‘Doomscrolling’ is SOAD in every perfect way, and the fact that they even cover ‘Toxicity’ later on to add to it is phenomenal. Another cover, Pendulum’s ‘Propane Nightares’, is another firm high point of the release. And of course, their big track, ‘Big Bad Voodoo’, and also stuff like ‘One Night Only’ and ‘Yügen’ are also HUGE highlights too.
As you can tell, I could gush about this release all day, and happily at that! The band are so damn talented in every aspect, and have crafted something truly unique with this album. They certainly have a big new fan in me, and I’ll be spinning this plenty in the months to come. I’d recommend absolutely anyone check this out ASAP, as it very much has something for everyone. And, I can’t give it any less than a whopping 10/10. Amazing stuff!
Monstrosity: Screams from Beneath the Surface
Max: This one was hard for me. It is, in every manner, an objectively good album. The riffs are great, the drummer is insane (the kicks were a real highlight), the vocals were gross and visceral, just as you would want. “So Max if everything is so good, why was it hard to review?”, well kind reader, its because it was really hard to give it an objective number rating. It’s not reinventing the wheel, nor is it doing nothing at all, it’s a lot of fun and has some weird little quirks throughout, like the high notes on the guitar in ‘The Atrophied’. So after literally flipping a coin to decide what I am going to give it, here it is … 7.5/10
Georgia Nevada: BackFire
The much-anticipated debut album from the UK country star finally dropped this last Friday. We loved her EP back last year, so have been pretty damn excited for this to arrive! To say it lives up to our hype would be an understatement, too! It’s 26 minutes of rock-infused country music, and when I say that every track is as good as the last, I truly mean it! ‘My Town, Too’, ‘Damaged Goods’ and ‘Stones Throw’ are all personal highlights, but there truly isn’t a bad song throughout. I like the even rockier edge she’s taken with this release, and her backing band are all incredible musicians alongside her! It’s easy to compare her to the likes of Kezia Gill, and this honestly feels just as polished and excellent as All on Redis. As the UK scene continues to grow year by year, Georgia has the real potential to be at the very forefront of it sooner rather than later, especially with releases like this! Anyone into country or rock in any capacity, check this out, it’s incredibly fun and a very easy listen. I can’t give it any less than 9/10!
Caroline Romano: It Took me Falling
Following up on the excellent How the Good Girls Die EP from last year was going to be a tall task, but Caroline has dropped a release every bit as good with this! It’s six awesome pop-rock tracks, each flowing perfectly from one to the next. There’s just a touch of country to the slower moments too, which I really liked. ‘Not Used to You’ is probably my favourite song on here, but each is great in their own way! It’s very Olivia Rodrigo, but does have a darker, slightly rockier edge to it too. Her vocals are amazing, and the lyrics skirt the line of emotional and fun perfectly throughout. If you are into her style, this is absolutely a release for you! It’s another release to get a solid 7/10!
Close Enemies: Self-Titled
The debut release from the newest rock supergroup finally dropped this last Friday. I didn’t actually know these guys were a thing until this weekend, but they are a damn good classic rock band, and have smashed it with this album! It very much feels like a sum of some of the parts, being vaguely Aerosmith and even Rod Stewart, but also a little Quireboys, Dirty Honey and our buddies above, The Black Crowes. ‘Sound of a Train’, ‘Wink and a Feather’ and single/ballad ‘More Than I Could Ever Need’ are all personal highlights, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout. Five excellent musicians have come together to create something awesome here, and if you are into any of their other projects, this is well worth checking out! It’s a pretty easy listen and, while it maybe gets a little long-in-the-tooth by the end, it’s still a solid 7.5/10 from us!
Sour Tusk: Lightning Boogie
The first album in seven years from the UK stoner metallers shows that the band haven’t at all lost a step in that time! It’s 40 minutes of great riffing and drumming, and some surprisingly catchy vocal hooks to boot. Between ‘Mission from God’, ‘Hail Hail’ and the punky ‘The Monster in Me’ are all big personal highlights, but there really isn’t a bad track throughout. The band are all insanely talented musicians and have been plugging away at the UK for a good few years now, growing a dedicated fanbase. Said fanbase will love this, as I’d easily put it up there with their debut! If you are at all into the stoner/doomier side of rock and metal, this is certainly for you. It’s like anything from QOTSA to The Sword to even Crowbar. It’s a lot of fun, and will surely push the band to new heights. 8/10
Cat Clyde: Mud Blood Bone
This is a fun classic country/soul album! It gives big Pokey Lafargeor Sierra Ferrel vibes, in the best ways. There’s also a slight gothic edge to it at times, giving off the energy of stuff like Twin Temple or Chelsea Wolfe. It’s certainly not a sound for everyone, but I had a great time listening! And, while it’s an album that begs to be listened to in full, and is very easy to do so, ‘Man’s World’, ‘My Love’ and the almost punky ‘Wanna Ride’ were personal highlights! Heck, I ended up enjoying the second half of the album even more than the first, which is saying something! But, as I said, it’s a fun listen, and just over half an hour goes by in a flash. Her vocals are incredible and fit the tone of each track perfectly, while her lyric writing is also amazing. And the band she has used here are stellar, fitting and representing her style to a T. It’s not a release I’d revisit often, but I know that whenever I do, I’ll have a blast! A pretty solid and easy 6.5/10 from us!
Schattenmann: Endgegner
Album five from the ‘New German Hardness’ band is also the longest gap between records they’ve had so far. Now, we enjoyed their last release back in 2023, but honestly this may be on another level! It’s got a lot more of an industrial edge throughout, but the dark melodies also remind me a lot of the likes of Lord of the Lost or Beyond the Black. The title track is the perfect opener, and songs like ‘Einen Scheiss muss ich’, ‘Schna-na-naps’ and ‘Echo’ are also big high points. The whole album is good though, even if it does feel a touch long. Though it’s only 40 minutes, it’s a lot of similar stuff, and does drag just a touch by the last few song, despite them still being high quality. Still, if you like their particular brand of noise, it’s definitely worth checking out, and it certainly won’t stop me from spinning it plenty in the coming weeks and months. A damn easy 8.5/10 from us!
Against I: Anti Life
This is a damn good blackened death metal album! Release four from the Swedish trio, they should be getting far more love than they are currently! This album is heavy, dark and epic all in equal measure, and an absolute must for anyone into the heavier side of the genre. And, even at nearly an hour in length, it goes by in a flash, and is a damn fun listen! From ‘Built to Destroy’ to ‘Empires of Bones’ to ‘Where we Lay to Rest’, it’s all so good. It certainly won’t be for everyone, but for someone who isn’t hugely into much black-metal-leaning stuff I was still hooked, so that must say something! The band have really come into their own here, and I can’t give it any less than 7/10, good stuff!
The Kimball Superstars: Here’s to the Memory
The sophomore album from the Washington old-school country band is a lot of fun. It’s simple but such an easy listen. From the title track to ‘No Happiness Alone’ to ‘Thinking Man’s Plight’, there is plenty to love. There are some incredible lyrics throughout, and the vocal delivery of all of it was perfect. Even the instrumentation construed plenty of emotion when needed! It doesn’t reinvent the wheel by any stretch, but is a damn easy album to throw on and relax to, and if you like an older country style this is absolutely an album for you. It’s good, if nothing else. 6/10, will probably listen again at some point soon.
The Gems: Year of the Snake
Following up on 2024’sPhoenix, the classic rock women have produced another awesome release with Year of the Snake. The albums titular track opens things perfectly, while tracks like single ‘Live and Let Go’ and ‘Hot Bait’ and the bluesy ‘Buckle Up’ are all further high points. However, this whole album is banger after banger, and 45-minutes goes by in the blink of an eye. It’s packed full of fantastic riffs, solid drumming and amazing vocals, all wrapped up into a package the perfect mix of sleaze, hard rock and AOR. The trio are some of the best songwriters in their genre currently, and are really operating at the top of their game. Every song on here is as good as the last, from fast stomper to emotional ballad. As much as I loved (and still spin) Phoenix, I think somehow they have managed to top it with this release. I LOVE this album, and feel like it won’t get nearly the buzz it deserves. Still, it gets an incredibly solid 9.5/10 from us, and expect it pretty high on our albums of the year listcome December!
Wolfbastard: Satanic Scum Punks
Four years after the Manchester ‘feral underground kings’ dropped their critically acclaimed Hammer the Bastards, the trio are back with another offering. And, it’s another excellent dark, aggressive black-metal-tinged hardcore album! It’s half an hour of balls-to-the-wall anger that feels so take-no-prisoners in the best way. Wolfbastard don’t give a shit if you like them or not, they’re just here to kick some ass! And, as a result, the release has a great flow to it, each track fitting together with each other perfectly. It makes it incredibly hard to pick highlights, as the whole thing just kinda slaps! It’s yet another release that certainly isn’t for everyone, but I had a damn good time listening to it and would LOVE to see it live! A damn solid 7.5/10 from us, and I cannot wait to hear where they go from here
The mighty Angus McSix and his band of orcs and dwarves dropped his second solo album today! For those of you who remember, we loved his debut back in 2023, and I still listen to a few songs from it fairly regularly now. However, from the moment this was announced, I’ve been excited, so for it to finally have arrived is awesome! There is no one quite like Angus, both in terms of vocals or writing, and if the rest of the album is anything like the couple of singles I’ve heard already, this is gonna be a blast!
While I am usually not one for front-loading an album, I kinda love that the first half of the album is all the singles, in release order. Angus has told a story here (I have only checked out the second track’s video so far, I may have to watch the others after this!) and putting it chronologically on the album makes a lot of sense. Plus, lead single ‘6666’ is absolutely amazing, and such a great way to open the album! Starting on a massive, powerful buildup highlighting Angus’ insane vocal range perfectly before blasting into that massive riff… amazing! The verse is typical McSix in all the best ways; the heavy guitars and drums and plenty of synth backing it. And, of course, the chorus is catchy as anything, just made to be played to huge festival crowds! My only vague complaint of the track is that it’s a touch short, but when we have a full album to check out it’s hardly an issue to be wanting more!
‘The Fire of Yore’ is a track that I’ve been obsessed with since it dropped back in September. We did a reaction back when it dropped, and gushed about it plenty then. It has also been in regular rotation for me since, and been stuck in my head at least a handful of times! That massive intro into the catchy-as-anything chorus is awesome, and the more retro verses fit between them perfectly. And heck, we get a dance-breakdown, so what’s not to love?! It’s just a fantastic modern power metal song, and doesn’t take itself too seriously so is a lot of fun. An amazing song and single, and definitely up there alongside the best of his debut!
The incredible Rhapsody of Fire join Angus and co on ‘I am Adam McSix’. Once again, it opens on a huge, catchy and arena-filling chorus, though it’s a little slower and lower energy than the previous tracks’. However, the riffing definitely feels a little heavier this time! And, Giacomo Voli’s vocals fit alongside Angus’ fantastically, it being an amazing collaboration. It feels more like a ballad track, but done in such an epic, power metal way that the energy stays consistent to the previous tracks. It’s another excellent track, and one that easily makes our playlist! I’m definitely going to have to watch the videos though, because I’m already losing track of the story just a little!
The other two singles, ‘Dig Down’ and ‘Techno Man’, once again feature guests in Van Canto and Turmion Kätilöt, respectively. The former is a fantastic, straight-up power metal track that feels very much built around its incredible chorus. Meanwhile the latter, much like the title suggests, leans more into the electronic elements, almost having an Electric Callboy vibe to it. Having said that, it still has a very typical Angus chorus, in the best possible way. And also, both guests do great, adding a lot to their respective tracks! If I had to pick, I’d prefer the latter, just because it feels a touch different compared to what we’ve had so far, and that heavy bridge with the screams from the Turmion camp are amazing. However, both are great songs in their own right, and fit the album perfectly!
Then, we reach the album tracks. ‘Ork Zero’ is another techno-heavy, high-energy banger that builds to another MASSIVE chorus. The same could be said for ‘Starlight Stronghold’, though it’s a bit more traditional power metal, for the most part. And, after a short interlude track, we get another personal highlight in ‘Let the Search Begin’. While it is still similar to a lot of the rest of the album, there’s just something about it that hooked me in and didn’t let go until the end. All of it is so catchy, from the verse to that huge, grandiose chorus, the harmonies and backing vocals definitely adding to it. Plus, we even get an awesome, technical and harmonised guitar solo tucked away in the middle, something I didn’t realise I was missing so much until I got it! It’s another huge high point of the album, and definitely one to check out!
‘The Power of Metal’ features another guest appearance, this time by Freedom Call. It instantly gives the track much more of a folk metal vibe to it. And yet still, by the time Angus’ powerful vocals come in, it sounds so distinctively McSix, him able to blend these different styles together into his own amazingly. Once again, all the vocals slot together perfectly, like two pieces of the same puzzleLyrically it’s silly but in the best way, telling a fantastic story. Once again I’m going to have to sit down with the videos and lyrics, because I do think the story will be as brilliant as it seems insane. In isolation it may be a little odd, but it fits the flow of the album to a tee, and as I said before, doesn’t take itself too seriously while still sounding excellent and being packed full of talent! Yet another banger!
The closing number, ‘Into Battle’, is another essentially interlude, but is so grandiose and epic I couldn’t not talk about it! It’s a fantastic piece of orchestral music that wouldn’t be out of place on a film score. It does, however, feel like a pretty massive buildup, which is a slightly odd way to end the album. Maybe it’ll fit in more with another listen or two but for now, although it was a great song on its own, I’d have maybe opened the release with it instead of closed it.
Overall: This is a great album, and a damn fitting follow-up to the Sword of Power! Each song is awesome, and the concept and flow to it is pulled off with such care and detail, it begs for multiple full listens and really sinking your teeth into it. While I do still think the tracks individually on his debut are better, there is no denying that this is a hugely strong album overall, and one I will be spinning plenty in the coming weeks and months. And still, there are plenty of solo tracks that stand up as some of his best work, from any band! I do kinda wish there was a bit more of a slower song on here; 41 minutes of similar sounding stuff can get old eventually, but there isn’t a song that I’d take away and replace with something else. If you are at all a fan of Angus, his past projects or power metal in general, this is definitely a release for you!
We had the pleasure of chatting to the amazing alt duo Pil and Bue the other day. Check out as we chat about their latest release, touring plans and the state of the industry!
How would you describe your sound? I tried all sorts of different ways to describe it in my review!
Atmospheric and…someone called it fusion rock. It’s hard to say… hehe.
What made you stick to a duo after all these years? Was there ever a point you considered adding other members?
It was only in the very beginning that we planned to add more members. We wanted to write a few songs first, and then get a band on its feet. This never happened, as we discovered the freedom of two. It was fun, and uncomplicated. It felt good. Still does. Sometimes it is challenging. Not many things to lean on to catch our breaths, haha. It is intense!
The album has been out a few days now, it seems to have been very well received!
We have received a lot of compliments and good reviews for it already, and of course that feels good. It’s always very exciting and a little scary to put out new work. We have spent a lot of energy and time on this, it’s a strange, meaningful and vulnerable thing. And right now we feel proud and satisfied.
Is there a certain theme running through the album? Or is it more individual stories?
It speaks about the strange times we live in and a feeling of overwhelmingness. Everything seems to go faster, and wars are on the rise. We need peace and love. We need to slow down. Some of the songs are more about what goes on within. Internal matters, in order to try and stay reasonable and sane. We are getting older, but not sure if we’re getting wiser. Times are strange.
What made you return to the (Level) tag after a few years away from it?
This is our first release on our own label, except from level 1, and therefore it felt very natural to go back to it.
What is the writing process like for the band?
Jam based. Often at soundchecks, we discover a riff. Record on our phone or similar. It is very often very inspiring to jam at soundchecks. Good sound, new room, new energy, new city… And then we listen to it after a while. A couple of months later, or so, to find out if it is something we want to build upon. And then we play around with it in the rehearsing room. Often the lyrics come last. However, sometimes a line or two appears in the beginning, and it stays with me through.
Do you have a favourite track on the album, and why?
I think mine is ‘that LITTLE sting’ at the moment. It has an untypical structure. It is two different song ideas merged into one. It is very playful and free. I like that. It’s fun to play it live too.
Do you have a busy year planned touring in support of the album?
Indeed! Lot’s of gigs!
I saw you’re in the UK in August for Arctangent, right? Any other shows planned over here for around that?
That’s right! Not at the minute, but let’s see what happens. We have heard that Arctangent is great, so we are looking forward to that one.
What would you say the music scene is like back home? If you’ve been to the UK before, do you have any comparisons you could make?
This is a good question. Here it is obviously much smaller than in the UK. a lot of DIY spirit here too, though. We haven’t played much in the UK thus far. 1 show in London, supporting Long Distance Calling. I think living up here makes the scene here a bit isolated, which also can lead to a unique sound, I guess.
Do you have a dream tour lineup you’d want to be a part of? Any bands you’d want to support or friends you want to bring on the road with you?
Both of us started playing instruments because of Metallica, so it would be fun to open for them. We would love to bring our friends in Féleth (Death metal from above the arctic circle) with us.
If you could have written one song from history, what would it have been and why?
Queen – The Show Must Go On. Because it is brilliant, and the show actually must go on.
The whopping 10th studio album from the NWOAHM titans is arriving to a lot of hype this coming Friday. Being a fan of the band for well over a decade at this point, and having heard a couple of the singles, I have to say I have been DAMN excitedly waiting to hear it. After a couple of surprisingly mixed-received albums (among the fans, critics love them), they return after four years with what seems to be a sound a bit closer to their 2000s work. We got the chance to check this out a little early, and of course jumped at the chance! So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!
The title track is one we are very familiar here at Overtone already. I’ve gushed about it plenty already in my reaction video, and have listened to it plenty since. It’s the perfect way to introduce the album, and as I mentioned in said video, does feel like an immediate return to form for the band. And I’m saying that who was a fan of their last couple of releases, too. However, this has a real old-school LoG vibe to it, from the riffing to Randy’s vocals to the amazing drumming, it’s all fantastic! It’s like I was transported back to when I first discovered and got into them properly with Sacrament (I’m old, I know!) and I loved every second. They never lost it, but feel like they’ve found it again anyway, just adding it on top of the rest! It’s an amazing song, and a huge early-album highlight!
‘Parasocial Christ’ explodes in with heavy riffing and screaming immediately, keeping the energy flowing excellently. The balls-to-the-wall opening opens out a little for the second half of the verse, giving it more of a groove metal feel. It’s a perfectly chaotic song that all feels like it builds up more and more into its eventual chorus, coming nearly halfway into the track! And, it’s a damn good chorus, to boot, and followed up by an amazing (if all too short) guitar solo! It’s just a damn good heavy song, and Randy’s growls towards the end are FANTASTIC, really drawing the track together perfectly. Two for two on excellent songs, so far!
Single ‘Sepsis’ opens on a dirty, heavy bassline, backed amazingly by the steady drums. We get some ever-great spoken word stuff over the top from Randy to build it up even more. The guitars come in and the vocals turn to screams, but it still stays at the same steady pace and level, feeling ominous and still building, and soon drops back again. I love the steady, plodding pace of the first half of the track, especially after two thrashier ones. However, it still feels damn heavy, and so very Lamb of God. And it still grows more and gets to more of their core sound in the second half. And, it’s all seems to be a buildup to that awesome drop-out to Randy’s scream into that HUGE breakdown, it hitting so hard and being really masterful writing. Said breakdown runs for the rest of the track too, acting as the perfect closer. It does one of my pet peeves of fading out, but even then it’s that amazing I don’t have too much of an issue with it. It was an interesting choice for a single, but it’s a damn good track in its own right, and definitely another highlight!
A low, menacing riff introduces ‘The Killing Floor’ before it goes right back into their breakneck, heavy pace! It’s classic Lamb of God in the best way. The same could be said for recent single ‘Blunt Force Blues’ and ‘Bully’. All are fantastic tracks in their own right and fit the tone and flow of the album perfectly. They are well worth checking out, and are only grouped together here to make the article more manageable as otherwise I’d be repeating myself a much and coming across as even more of a fangirl than I already am!
‘El Vacío’ slows things down perfectly at the halfway mark of the album. A clean, almost Tool-like riff kicks things off, with some low, clean vocals, something Randy has incorporated masterfully in recent years. Even when it explodes in with the distortion and heaviness for the chorus, it still stays at a slower pace. It kinda feels like the ballad of the album, and placed arguably perfectly within it. It’s a style that few can pull off as successfully as LoG, with the only that immediately springs to mind being Malevolence. However, I’d put this up there with any track they’ve put out in this vein, that’s for sure! It’s a really interesting song, and honestly one that pretty easily makes our playlist!
‘St Catherine’s Wheel’ is another interesting track. It’s insanely fast, but also has an arrangement more like a Gojira song than anything else. The dynamics throughout are wild, starting with distant drums and guitar, going hard for seconds, before dropping out to the high riffing, awesome drumming and vocals. Don’t get me wrong, it builds up to some CHUNKY LoG style stuff pretty quick, but changing it up is always highly appreciated. The chorus is awesome too, heavy and catchy in equal measure, and one of my favourite on the album! And the riffing behind it… *chefs kiss*. I mean, the riffing through the whole track is amazing, as the breakdown/bridge is also excellent. To I’m sure no shock at all, I loved this song, and it’ yet another that I’d urge anyone reading this to check out!
The final two songs, ‘A Thousand Years’ and ‘Devise/Destroy’ are both once again bangers in their own right. The former is a more plodding, groove metal number that has some of Randy’s best ever clean vocals, as well as some absolutely phenomenal screams. Then you have the closer that is just as balls-to-the-wall as the opening couple of numbers, bringing the album full-circle excellently. It’s heavy, full of attitude and once again has some incredible riffing and a great chorus. Both are two more huge highlight tracks on an album honestly full of them!
Overall: Going into this expecting big things after a couple of the singles, this somehow blew me away even more than I’d hoped for! It has plenty of old-school Lamb of God moments, but also has some stuff that is more akin to their more modern sound, though done in such a way that it feels heavy, dark and more like them than ever. The change of their logo wasn’t just done because it had been a while; it feels like a bold new chapter of the band, and I am all for it! It feels like a culmination of everything that has come before it, with a sprinkling of modern, new sounds added on top to fantastic results. If you have ever at all been a fan of the band or the style, this is an absolute must-listen!
We had the pleasure of chatting to Welsh metalcorers Scratch One Grub the other day about their recent debut album, plans for the year and the state of the scene. Check it out below!
How would you describe your sound?
The Grubman – “Energetic, aggressive, furious, heavy, in your face. Elements of many genres combined.”
What inspired the release of an album practically to start with over an EP or more standalone singles?
Lewis – “Me and Grubman wrote an EP’s worth of material together and in the meantime, I had an EP’s worth of material. It just made sense to combine the 2 and create a full album. We could have released everything as singles or EP’s, which would have been good to keep up the streaming engagement. However, having an album to your name is something to be proud of and quite rare for grassroots bands to say these days. I think going forward, it will be more single and EP focused just so we can maintain listener engagement.”
Grubman – “Also gives the audience more to listen to and gives us a chance to tell a story and have more songs for the crowd to know before seeing us live.”
Is there a particular story or theme around the album, or is it more a story for each individual track?
Grubman – “Individual based as a whole. We feel like the album in its entirety is showcasing the songwriting abilities. The album is paced very well and that takes you on a journey in itself.”
Lewis – “I like the idea of a concept album, but in my opinion, the idea for one has to be truly solidified and consistent. I’m not sure if we have the patience for that. Lyrically there are some cross cutting themes I suppose.”
What is the writing process like for the band?
Grubman – “Lewis and I come together with ideas and build upon them. They are passed onto the band for them to contribute any ideas they might have.”
Lewis – “Sometimes the initial ideas are very basic and brief which I love, as it leaves plenty of space for creative opportunities. My approach specifically is to riff around with a drum track and piece things together. Sometimes I set myself up to write something with a specific sound, otherwise sonically, we might lack diversity.”
Do you have a favourite track on the album? And if so, which is it and why?
Lewis – “‘Ysbryd’. There are so many layers to that song in every element of the music and it’s just a beautiful track in general. Full of emotion, heaviness and melodies.”
Grubman – “‘Absolution’. It’s the first song we wrote together over 5 years ago.”
Busy year planned promoting the album with live shows?
Grubman – “We did an album launch show and have an anniversary gig coming up too. We have other gigs lined up across South Wales with some amazing bands. The friends and connections we’ve made over just a year’s time are great and we love hitting local venues.”
Lewis – We’re constantly looking for shows, especially to follow up from the batch we already have that lead into the spring and summer. Can’t get enough of it!”
What do you think the scene is like these days? Welsh scene seems especially good!
Lewis – “I think the South Wales metal scene is awesome! There genuinely is a great selection of gifted artist here and we are proud to say that we have made strong connections with a lot of them. I think South Wales will remain this way forever.”
Grubman – “We are proud to be a part of the Welsh metal scene!”
Do you have a dream tour lineup you’d want to be a part of? Any bands you’d want to support or friends you want to bring along?
Grubman – “Playing with Slipknot would be a dream, also playing some major festivals such as Bloodstock and Download.
Lewis – “Agreed, especially Download since we have attended many. Metallica is an easy and unoriginal answer, however my reason is that it’s because they play stadiums. Don’t get me wrong, I love Metallica and being a part of their lineup would be an honour alone, but not many metal bands can play the stadiums that they do.”
If you could have written one song from history, what would it be and why?
Grubman – “‘Money for Nothing’. Best riff ever.”
Lewis – “My answer used to be ‘Happy Song’ by Bring Me The Horizon. Now though, I don’t really know. Does that mean that music history would have to be re-written to some degree? That can be considered a consequence to this wish and I wouldn’t want to do that. I am grateful that all the music we have now exists, no matter who wrote it. If you want a short answer then it would be this: History is constantly being written. Now that Scratch One Grub are here, we will create our own part.”
Another massive week of new music for us to dive into, from metal to rock to country. Let’s dive right in! And, once again, welcome back Max and Owen to help out!
Hunter Hayes: Evergreen
The follow-up to 2023’s Red Sky, this is a fun, pretty beautiful 36-minutes of pop-country music. The opening/title track sets things up perfectly, while tracks like single ‘Wait’, ‘Every Piece’ and ‘Human Again’ are also big highlights. The whole album has a good flow to it though, and is a very easy listen. It’s very pop leaning, reminding me more of the likes of Shawn Mendez and Ed Sheeran than anything traditional-country-based. It’s not particularly my sort of thing, but I still had a good time listening to it. His vocals are great and fit the instrumentation perfectly, while his lyrics are more than passable. If you like a more pop-based sound, this is well worth checking out. I’d happily listen again, though I wouldn’t actively seak it out. It’s just a good album to relax to, and I sadly don’t have much else to add. You’ll know straight away if you’ll love it or not! 7/10
Lost Society: Hell is a State of Mind
Album six from the Finnish metallers isn’t what I was expecting, but honestly fucking slaps! I haven’t listened to them since their thrashy first few albums. So, to come into more of a modern metalcore/nu metal/radio metal sound was definitely a bit of a shock to the system. However, it’s not hugely a bad things. I’d have loved some more thrash/death metal from them, but this is so well done that it’s hard not to love. From the opener to ‘Synthetic’, ‘Kill the Light’ to the insane ‘Dead People Scare Me’ it’s packed full of highlights. It’s clear they have pulled from their Finnish counterparts in The Rasmus, Blind Channel and even Sweden’s Smash into Pieces with their big radio-hook choruses. Though, it still has a heavier edge than those, and still maintains some of the great melodic leads and big riffs from their early days.
There really isn’t anyone combining all these different styles currently, making this release pretty unique, keeping me hooked throughout. Even the acoustic ballad of ‘Is This What You Wanted’ was excellently done, and broke the album up pretty perfectly. And it’s a style and heaviness that I do feel is missing from some of the bands I’ve drawn comparisons to above, so it’s hard not to love this. I’m enjoying it more with each listen, and I liked it from the first! The production is excellent too, everything from the mix to the strings adding even more depth and massiveness to it. It almost adds a power metal edge to it at times. And, of course, the band are working their asses off throughout, playing and writing masterfully. It is epic from start to finish, and if anyone is at all into melodic metal, this is an absolute must-listen! It’ll definitely be a mainstay for me over the coming months, and I can’t give it any less than 9.5/10!
Black Stone Cherry: Celebrate
We’ve already checked out this awesome EP! Read our full review here.
The Darts: Halloween Love Songs
The all-female horror-garage-rockers returned this last week with a follow-up to their excellent 2025 output, Nightmare Queens. They have become one of the most consistent bands on the circuit, putting out an album every year of the last four. And, the fact that they are all pretty fantastic releases too really screams to the bands talent. This one is no different, easily being up there alongside their very best. It’s the perfect mix of ‘Ballroom Blitz’, ‘Monster Mash’ and ‘Rock Lobster’, but with a modern flair and production to it! Heck, it also gives off big The Doors vibes in the best ways. And, more oddly, a splash of Pokey, though that may be the overall old-school feel. It’s a sound that isn’t nearly as prevalent these days as it should be, but The Darts do it so well that’s hard not to immediately fall in love with each release.
This is a fun 37-minutes of rock that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and definitely makes me nostalgic for a better time. From the opener to ‘Blood Run Cold’, ‘Every Night is Halloween’ to ‘Up in my Soul’, there are plenty of highlight tracks and songs to love. However, there really isn’t a bad one throughout, even if they do all carry a similar energy and blend together just a touch by the end. If you are at all a fan of any of the sounds or artists I’ve named previously, this is an absolute must-listen for you. I’ll definitely be spinning this plenty in the coming weeks and months, and it gets an incredibly solid 8.5/10 from us!
Insect Inside: Reborn In Blight
Max: A visceral and raw album that keeps punching has just been released by Insect Inside. It’s intense and might be exactly what you are looking for. The first track has this slow almost menacing build but from then you keep getting hit by the heavy and aggressive tone that persists through out the rest of the album. Now sure, this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, lets be honest here this kind of music can be a bit too much, but I love this stuff. I won’t lie I did have to look at the lyrics to know what was being said but the vocal tone is nuts. Setup you speakers well and put this on full volume, because this is expertly well done but on the bands side and the production as well, it is crisp. Now I know I say this a lot, but this one really should be given a go, because everyone in this band is very and I mean very talented. Its a certified Max recommendation. 8.5/10
Teenage Bottlerocket: The Invisible Man
I’m not sure why we have such a vague horror theme this week when we’re only in March, but I’ll take it! The new EP from the modern skate-punk legends comes just six months after their last album, and continues on their sound perfectly. Somehow we missed Ready to Roll when it dropped, but I have checked it out since and do love it! This is no different; four more awesome tracks that are unmistakably Bottlerocket. It’s maybe a touch slower than their album stuff, but is still just good, fun, lighthearted punk music. ‘You Made Me Get Called a Poser’ and ‘Pembrey’s Face’ are personal highlights, but the other two tracks are also good! It’s not even 10 minutes long as a full release, but I had a blast. I think it’s legitimately impossible not to have a good time listening to it! So, for that reason, it gets a very solid 8/10 from us!
Smag Pa Dig Selv: This is Why we Lost
Owen: Acid jazz trio, Smag På Dig Selv, bring us their second album ‘This Is Why We Lost’, following their debut in 2024. The danish collective comprising of two saxophonists and one drummer deliver a mix of electronic, ethereal and energetic tracks in this album. Stand out tracks include ‘Hits 4 Kids Vol. 3000’ a club anthem with an acid twist, and single ‘Like A Word I Never Knew’ opening the album on strong note. The combination of genres makes for an interesting listen, relying on the brass for melody and narrative while the electronic aspects handle the beat and rhythm of the sound. I’m sure for the artists there is some deeper narrative arc to the album but this fails to come across to the listener, however there’s some strong tracks sure to get people moving and some catchy melodies that will stick in your head 6.5/10
Russel Dickerson: Worth Your Wild EP
My complete befuddlement of Russels release schedule/strategy aside, this is a fun EP! I assume it’s a way of putting out tracks that otherwise may not make a full album release so get boosted by being on with a collection named after a big single. That or it just helps streams. He may be onto something, in that regard…
Either way, the other three tracks are good! ‘B.O.A.T.’, apart from the spelling it out, is a great ballad. ‘2 Limes, 2 Coronas’ is a big highlight of the release and the best non-title-track on here. Then ‘Spring Break’ finishes things off in great, radio-ballad fashion. If you are a fan of Russel, this is another fantastic release in a long line of them at this point! However, his style certainly isn’t for everyone, and if you don’t like his pop/vaguely bro country sound, you won’t be sold on him with this EP. It’s going to definitely be a release I revisit in the summer, but I’ll certainly be spinning it before then I imagine, too! He keeps trucking along dropping awesome new music every year, and is certainly getting to the point of being underrated at this stage. 7.5/10
Mother Crone: Embrace the Death
Finally following up on debut Awakening after a decade, this sludgy, doomy, vaguely proggy metal release is the perfect reintroduction to the band. Drawing inspiration from everyone from Pantera to Crowbar to even some hints of Pink Floyd, it’s an interesting release, for sure! It’s packed full of the heaviest of riffs, but also some damn catchy moments, especially with the harmonised vocals. From the opener to the slower title track to the truly grandiose ‘Inner Keep’ are all personal highlights. It’s not going to be a release for everyone, but if you like a longer release that really takes its time and earns every big moment, this is very much one for you. It’s like a heavier Candlemass, and I kinda love it! They’re all such talented players, and work their asses off throughout. Weirdly the only streaming platform I could find it on was Bandcamp, but I am more than happy to support any artist on there over anywhere else! It’s definitely an album I’ll be spinning again. 7/10
Sons of Town Hall: Of Ghosts and Gods
We’ve also checked out this release already! Read the full review here.
Tardigrade Inferno: Hush
Album four from the cabaret metal band is another quirky, fun addition to their growing discography. The combination of horror/circus music with metal has taken off amazingly in recent years with the likes of Ward XVIand even elements of Ice Nine Kills, but these four are very much still running at the front of the pack. It also gives slight Bungle/FNM vibes, though that may just be the vocal delivery at times. There’s plenty to love throughout, too. ‘Deadly Fairytales’, ‘All in Your Head’ and ‘Hush’ are all personal highlights and absolutely amazing tracks in the genre as a whole. The band are all clearly talented though, playing their asses off throughout and crafting something truly interesting and unique. While it took me a song or two to get into, I was soon having a blast of a time and the rest of the album went by in a flash. If you are at all interested, I cannot recommend this enough; they will certainly have a solid, loyal audience, that’s for sure! I’ll definitely be spinning it again, and it gets a solid 8/10 from us!
Legionary: Never-Ending Quest for Purpose
Max: I’ll be honest here, for five tracks, it’s fine. It was however nothing insane. There were bits where I just couldn’t get the feel and the have to say the vocals weren’t really for me. However, I did enjoy the clean vocals specifically at ~ 1:20 in ‘Controllers of Perception’, that really was a highlight of the whole album for me. I would quite like to see where they go from here and what future releases show as whilst it wasn’t really for me, I think they are a talented group. A solid 6/10
Hässi: Keep it Stupid, Simple
This instrumental EP is honestly fucking awesome, showing off Hässi’s talents for playing and songwriting perfectly across its 12 minutes. ‘Bump the Hump Machine’ opens things up perfectly with a bouncy, fun energy, while displaying his insane technical ability. It has elements of funk rock to it that had me hooked right from the get-go. ‘Naked in the Chain’ continues that vein and sound perfectly, being another phenomenal instrumental track. And, I’m sure to the surprise of no one, the other two tracks are just as great. Though it’s all pretty similar, even for an instrumental release it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome, ending just in time and honestly leaving me wanting more. For a debut release this is amazing, and the perfect introduction to his playing and style. Even if you think you are not usually into purely instrumental stuff, give this a listen, I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do. 7.5/10, amazing stuff!
Gravemass: This is the Way
Don’t make a Mandolorian joke… don’t make a Mandolorian joke…
Honestly, this is half an hour of brutal excellence. From the insane riffing to the thunderous, relentless drumming to the brutal screams, it’s all so good. It almost has a pretty hardcore energy to it too, none of the tracks overstaying their welcome, being balls-to-the-wall and straight to the point! And every song flows pretty excellently; every track being as good as the last! And, for a debut album and a band that seemingly haven’t been around all too long, this is amazing stuff! They should be a lot bigger than they are already, and hopefully this album pushes them to new heights! From the opener to ‘Harvest of Souls’ to the bands namesake track, there are definitely highlights. Though, as I said before, there isn’t a bad track throughout! And it still has an air of epicness throughout that made me even more hooked. They have a VERY bright future ahead of them, and if you are at all into a more death-leaning metal sound, I cannot recommend this enough. It gets an incredibly solid 8.5/10 from us!
William Clark Green: Watterson Hall
Owen: Watterson Hall is the seventh studio album from Texas country singer William Clark Green. With a back catalog of medium hits it feels like Green has found the recipe he’s sticking with. ‘Whole Lotta Lubbock’, the third track of the album encapsulates this feeling completely, generic lines about being from Texas, mention living in the country and the Ole Opry, call out a few more Texas towns, the crowd will be eating it up right? The rest of the album hits all the points you’d expect, a few slow songs and a few fast ones, but nothing much to tell them apart more than that. This is Country music played safe, middle of the road, inoffensive and easily packaged for radio. 3/10
Surfbort: Reality Star
The first album from the Brooklyn punkers in nearly half a decade is… certainly an album… I usually don’t mind a more old-school punk vibe of release, but sadly something about this didn’t really resonate with me. Looking at the bands ethos I’m not exactly their target audience, but even still, that usually doesn’t stop me from enjoying at least parts of it. Don’t get me wrong, the band are talented for the most part, and instrumentally it’s fairly decent; meandering between classic punk and a more indie-infused sound. I think it’s a toss-up between the at-times nonsensical, thrown together lyric writing or the generally unenthused delivery of them that kinda ruins it for me. There is definitely a market for this sort of thing, just look at how big Amyl and the Sniffers are getting, so I completely get that there will be those out there that love this. However, I am not one of those people. When my favourite track on the release is a minute-long skate punk number that just repeats the phrase ‘Hot Chicks Cold Beer’ for most of its runtime, that should tell you everything you need to know about my enjoyment of it. If you like the sort of style I’be described them as, they’re well worth a listen, but I can’t give it any more than a 3.5/10. Sorry guys.
Charlotte Sands: Satellite
Album three from the pop/alt rocker is a fun 28-minutes of radio rock! Her vocals are just as good as ever, and the songwriting throughout is the perfect blend of current-day pop and darker alt rock. I thought I didn’t recognise the name but upon seeing the album artwork for her debut, it all came flooding back. From ‘one eye open’ to the beautiful ‘Afterlife’ to ‘neckdeep’, there are plenty of highlights throughout. However, the whole album is pretty great, especially if you’re into the style. It’s no wonder she’s become such a big name in such a short amount of time, as she is consistently great on her studio work. A must-listen for anyone into a pop-rock style, and a very easy 8/10 from us. I’ll certainly be revisiting this sooner rather than later!
Karelian Warcry: Veripellot
To my slight shock, I actually really enjoyed this! Being pretty frumpy routed in black metal, I didn’t know what to expect, but the injection of death metal had me hooked in from the start, not letting me go until 50 minutes later. The riffing was amazing, and the screams were a lot more palatable than most black metal. And, on top of it all, the production on the album was incredible, something I can’t say much about genre! ‘Joukkohauta’ and ‘Unholan tuntemattomat’ are personal highlights, but the album as a whole has a fantastic flow to it! It’s criminal that these guys have been going so long and aren’t a bigger name, because the talent is definitely there! Maybe it’s because it’s their first big release in 15+ years, but even still, hopefully this album pushes them up the pecking order! It’s not something I’d listen to often, but I feel like whenever I do, I’ll have just as good a time as I did here. Check this out if you like the heavier stuff, it gets a solid 7/10 from us!
Aaron Watson: Horse Named Texas
The fifteenth studio album from the early 2000s country legend blew me away far more than I expected it to! The harmonised vocals that open the thing won me over immediately, and the whole of ‘Hardly Friends Barely Lovers’ is an awesome neo-traditional country track! That is followed up perfectly with a couple of slower, old-school tracks, with ‘Same Here’ being another big high point. Then you have tracks like the title one, single ‘Hit the Hay Runnin’’, ‘Drinking & Driving (You Crazy)’ and ‘Your Kinda Guy’ that are also big personal highlights.
However, my issue is, there’s another 20, YES 20, tracks alongside those I’ve named. This thing is 87 minutes and 26 songs long, which is just far too much. Even if it was half as long, it may still be a little too lengthy a lot of the tracks are slower, more ballad-like tracks, which is rather old-school and not an issue in general, but when there’s so many one after another, it didn’t do much to hold my attention. None of the tracks are bad on their own by any stretch, but as an album as a whole, the length makes it suffer.
I wouldn’t say I’d never listen to this again, as there are a good few awesome songs on here. If it came on in the background, I’d probably have a good time listening. However, I certainly wouldn’t seek out this album to put on very often. Aaron is a damn talented singer and writer, but I can’t give this any more than 5.5/10. Still, if you’re into older country, it’s worth a try!
Shatten: Gegenwart
The German alternative four piece put out their third longer release last Friday, and I enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than I expected to! The band have described the album as ‘exploring the state of the here and now’, and though I don’t understand the lyrics, I fully feel the emotion behind them and their delivery. It feels both bleak and uplifting at different times, sometimes even in the same song, taking the listening on a full journey. And, while it very much all feels like one big piece that is designed to be listened to together, the opener, ‘Raben’ and ‘Ein Toter mehr…’ are personal highlights. It has a definite air of the darker, 90s end of euro-pop, but also has a healthy dose of indie and alternative and even grunge. It’s another release this week that feels pretty damn unique! It’s melancholic while also still being rather chilled-out and easy to listen to. While not typically my sort of thing, the band certainly have a new fan in me, and I’ll be keeping an eye on them going forward. It’s a solid 7.5/10 our end!
Austin Michael: Lonestar
Back with another album after nearly six years, his particular brand of stripped-back, chilled-out country with him. It’s old-school-meets-new-school in maybe the closest way I’ve heard, having a classic vibe while also feeling geared perfectly towards the currently mainstream landscape. While it’s not hugely my sort of thing, I did find myself enjoying certain tracks. ‘Cowboys Don’t Act Like That’, the rockier ‘Why Not Whiskey’ and ‘Least of my Worries’ and the surprisingly heavy ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ are standouts for sure, both in terms of quality and because they had a different vibe to them than much of the rest. Honestly, the latter two took me off guard a bit, as the rest of the album is more calm, radio-friendly and upbeat, but it’s certainly not a complaint! They definitely broke up the album in a good way, that’s for sure.
However, the tracks don’t quite make up for the album as a whole being a touch slow for me. It’s not a bad album at all, but overall is a little slow. There’s probably half this album that I‘l be happily revisiting, but can take or leave the other half. However, if you are into the slower side of country, it’s definitely worth giving a spin! It may grow on me, but for now it gets a still good 6.5/10
Toys that Bïte: You Have Been Warned
The debut album from the semi-tongue-in-cheek 80s revival rockers is nothing if not a lot of fun! Easily comparable to Van Halen, Night Ranger, Mötley Crüe and Aerosmith, its Sunset Strip-soaked sleaze/hard rock replicated to perfection. The band are insanely talented, with the Eddie-like riffing and soloing being excellent, and the vocals and drums fitting them perfectly. Tracks like ‘Genius Level Stupid’, ‘Ladies of the Night’ and ‘Hit That Like’ are a perfect example of how great this album is, but every song is as amazing as the last! And heck, anyone who has a song titled ‘Tits (Make Him an Animal)’ is automatically good in my book! It’s an album definitely worth a spin if you’re into 70s and 80s hard rock or hair metal, and one that has quickly won me over into a big fan of the band! I already can’t wait to hear more from them, honestly. It’s a blast to listen to from start to finish, and gets a very solid 8.5/10 from us!
Chicago Farmer: Homeaid
This was another album that unexpected blew me away! It’s got a real classic rock thing going on alongside the country, and it makes for one hell of a listen. Like it had elements of everything from The Doors, Lynyrd Skynyrd and even Led Zeppelin at times, as well as a more traditional sound at others. And, the more I listened, the more I fell in love with not just the album, but the band as a whole! From single ‘Peshtigo’ to ‘Mattress’ to the title track, there are some truly excellent songs throughout, though none of them are in any way bad! And it goes by in a flash, not feeling its length in any way. I’m already a little obsessed thanks to spinning it a fair bit this weekend, and am rather desperate for them to come over to the UK so we can see them live! How I haven’t heard of them before now when they’ve been going a while is beyond me, but they certainly have a new fan in me! Regardless of what you’re into, check this out as soon as you can, you won’t regret it! It’s laid back, fun but also plenty emotional, too. I can’t give it any less than 9/10, great stuff!
Jesper Lindell: 3614 Jackson Highway
This was a lot more jazz-based than I was expecting it to be. Going into it from a recommendation on a country site, I had no idea Jesper was a Swedish soul-rock artist until after I’d started listening. However, this is not me complaining, pump this shit into my veins, dude! Opener ‘If I was Money’ sets the tone perfectly and is a huge early highlight. Then you have tracks like ‘Rainy Night in Georgia’ and ‘I’ve Got a Thing About you Baby’ that are also all excellent. And the two tracks that feature guests, Michaela Holmberg and everyone’s favourite dad Phil Campbell, are just as good as anything else. So, if you haven’t guessed already, this whole album is excellent! It reminds me of Cardinal Black at times in the best way possible. It’s another artist I’m shocked I hadn’t heard before now, but am so thankful I have now discovered. I’ll be spinning this plenty moving forward, probably for the rest of the year! And, for that reason, it gets a very solid 8.5/10 from us!
So, a little bit of a different one this time! Try as I like, I am usually just one man, and can’t always check out and review 20+ albums a week. However, I have been going back and listening to some of the stuff I’ve missed, and a lot of it is damn good! Now, I don’t have the chance to talk about all of them (I’ve counted 165 albums I’ve listened to since December, not counting this weekends, but below are some of our favourites from the last three months that we haven’t reviewed yet. Lets dive in!
Josh Weathers: Neon Never Fades
Right at the start of the year, we had this incredible new-traditional country release drop, Weathers’ first studio release since 2019. And, it’s been a release that’s been stuck in my rotation ever since! Right from the excellent opener, ‘Gambling’, I was hooked from my very first listen, and have listened through the following half-hour multiple times since January. From ‘Boys Chase Girls’ to ‘Honky Tonk Time’ to ‘I Gotta Have It’ there are so many highlights throughout alongside the opener. However, every song is amazing, and the album has an excellent flow to it, going by in a flash. I wasn’t familiar with Josh before hearing this release, but he has a massive new fan in me, not just of this album but all of his stuff! It’s a damn fun release, and has made me desperate for him to come to the UK so I can see some of it live. Until that time, I’m happy to keep spinning this album, as I haven’t gotten bored of it yet! It’s one of the best country releases I’ve heard in a while, and after a good few spins it gets a 9.5/10 from us!
Inborn Tendency: Let There be Sin
This debut death/groove metal album is another release that’s had me hooked since near the start of the year! The fact that this is just a three-piece is insane enough as it is, but that it is also of this high quality is nuts. Oh, and for a debut album, INSANELY good! It’s another short release too, only 30 minutes and very much all killer, no filler. The riffs are incredible, the drums go hard and the screams are brutal throughout. If you are at all into the heavier side of metal, this is absolutely a release for you! The album has certainly gotten some more eyes/ears on the band, including this writer’s, and hopefully they continue their upwards trend. It’s another release I’ll be spinning plenty still moving forward, and it’s a solid 8.5/10 from me!
All the Damn Vampires: VICECORE
This is an awesome sophomore album, and a great mix of retro and modern! It gives off vibes of everything from Genesis and Cutting Crew to LALYE and St. Vincent; a modern electronic soft rock. And, while it is slower paced for the most part, it’s epic ballad after epic ballad, perfectly modernising an 80s Miami sound and feeling. ‘Is This Love’, ‘Last Man Standing’ and ‘On My Own’ are all huge highlights for me, while their cover of ‘(I Just) Died in your Arms’ is utter perfection. Every guest on it works their asses off and brings so much to the sound, but the band themselves kill it too on each track. It’s not an album for everyone, but I loved this, and have listened to it at least a couple of times in the last month! It’s an easy 8/10 album, and well worth checking out!
Andy Smith: Long Time Coming
Another fantastic country release from January, and this time from a guy who certainly isn’t getting the love he deserves for such a great album! It’s 44-minutes of great, rock-tinged and emotion-filled country music that I’d put there with any of its contemporaries on mainstream radio these days. Think Chris Young or Blake Shelton, and up alongside them in terms of quality, too. It’s a tad generic sure, but that’s the same as 90% of popular country these days! From the opening two songs to ‘You Can Love a Memory’ and ‘Hematite For Gold’, there’s plenty to love throughout! However, there really isn’t a bad track on the whole album. Hopefully he gets some more love and exposure soon, as he could be one of the biggest names at least in the growing UK country scene off this release. I’ve been obsessed since I first heard it, and cannot recommend it enough to anyone even slightly interested. A very easy 9/10!
Firmament: Ashes & Awakenings
The debut EP from the UK melodic metallers is a great example of their talent for both playing and songwriting. It’s technical, heavy a little proggy and has plenty of catchiness throughout. ‘Through Tempests’ is probably my favourite track on the release, but the other four are also awesome in their own right! It’s an awesome 24-minutes that immediately leaves me wanting more, which I would argue is one of the purposes of an EP. Still, until we get more from the band, I am more than happy to keep spinning this truly awesome release! The more I have listened the more I’ve fell in love with it, and I can’t give it any less than 8/10.
P.S. I loved the artwork around this release, with each single being a card and the EP being the deck. It’s little nuances like this that I really enjoy, especially in rock and metal!
Bob Saliba: Testimony
So technically this is a 2025 album, but it was December, so wouldn’t have made it onto our 2025 list. Solo album two from the Kingcrown guitarist is an awesome AOR journey from start to finish! He gets to flex his guitar chops just as much here as he does in other bands, maybe even more so, and the band he has backing him are all so damn talented, too. it’s nearly an hour in length but doesn’t feel it at all, going by in a flash. ‘Dark Lands’, ‘Our Constellation 2.0’ and ‘Savengers’ are all personal highlights. It gives off vibes of Queensryche or Night Ranger in the best ways. The riffing and soloing is excellent, while the drumming and powerful, soaring vocals fit all of it excellently! It’s completely different to Kingcrown, but arguably in the best possible way. If you are at all into any of the genres or bands I’ve mentioned previously, I’d highly recommend checking this out, you certainly won’t be disappointed! It’s an album I can see myself listening to on and off all year, and it gets another very solid 8/10 from us!
Jay Buchanan: Weapons of Beauty
More of a chilled-out, slower country release now, but one that won me over more and more on my first listen. While I do usually like this sort of style, 50 minutes of it is normally a bit much for me. However, Buchanan is so damn talented that I couldn’t help but love every minute of this and have listened to it at least a few times in the month since its release. The first couple of songs are beautiful and great, but the gospel-y ‘True Black’ was really what won me over, and put into context the rest of the album. The rest of the album, and subsequently the previous songs after, I was obsessed with. And while they’re all good individually, this is a release that begs to be listened to in full. It all flows perfectly together and somehow each song improves the other. His voice is hauntingly beautiful, full of emotion and giving me goosebumps on more than one occasion throughout. And, the air of indie/soft rock/Americana on a couple of tracks was fantastic, breaking things up perfectly and definitely serving as album highlights. While I’m personally going to give it a 7.5/10, it is still a fantastic album and well worth checking out for anyone even vaguely interested. And, come summer and after more listens, it may get an even higher score!
Nearly Skulls: PAX AMERICANA
Describing themself as ‘grumpy dad rock’ is somehow both perfect and soul destroying, as this is very much the music of my youth (though the back end of it, I suppose). However, one of the hardest working artists around currently, the band dropped this on January 3rd and have put out multiple singles in the two months since. The frequency of their output doesn’t at all diminish the quality of their music though, as this is an excellent release! ‘Only in America’ is fantastic, R.E.M. goodness. Then you have the more Bad Religion-esque ‘Living the Dream’ and the awesome ‘Polarized and Weaponized’ that I’m also obsessed with. Oh, and the other two songs are also great, too! The whole album has a distinct punk vibe to it, and has some of the best lyrics I’ve heard all year. They’re yet another artist from this list that deserve so much more love than they are getting, but either way they have killed it with this EP! They have a big new fan in me, and it’s a very easy 8.5/10
Fear of Domination: Katharsis
This big Finnish metal band are as theatrical as they are industrial, and immediately draw my mind towards Mushroomhead as the closest comparison. However, even that doesn’t quite do the, justice, as it has elements of melodeath as well as a general epicness that can only seem to come out of Europe. It’s another one that has grown on me with multiple listens, and has caused me to since go back and check out their previous releases, making an easy new fan in me! From the opener to ‘Monsters’, ‘Last Words’ to ‘All as One’ there is so much to love throughout. It’s equal parts melodic, heavy and grandiose, and I truly believe it’s impossible not to have a good time listening to it. The band are insanely talented and have crafted something pretty special with this release, maybe my favourite they’ve put out. I can’t give it any less than 9/10, amazing stuff!
The Last Sound Revelation: The Proximity Effect
Though instrumental, I would recommend anyone check this out, especially if you are a musician yourself. The talent on display throughout is INSANELY HIGH. And, the composition of each try is great too, constantly keeping me interested, shocking for 46-minutes without any vocals! It’s technical, beautiful, proggy and pretty heavy all in equal measure. The Tool-like ‘Angel of Incidence’ and ‘Hypercube’ are probably my highlights, but I have listened through this whole thing at least a couple of times since its release. I’d definitely recommend just sitting in a dark room with some headphones on and really get lost in this thing. It’s very much a release that won’t be for everyone, but if you are even vaguely interested it is well worth giving it a try. As I said, even if it’s just to marvel at the sheer talent on display. I can’t really dwell on it all too long, but it gets 7.5/10 from us, very damn solid for an instrumental album!
Stone Sea: Ad Astra
This is stoner/doom rock awesomeness for almost a solid half-an-hour! The first album from the Ireland-based band in over a decade, it’s clear the band didn’t lose a step at all between releases. From the huge riffs to the awesome breakdowns, catchy vocals to heart-pounding drums, it all fits together perfectly. And, honestly, it all fits together in such a great, concise 27-minute package that it’s pretty hard to pick individual highlights! Some of the melodies on it are fantastic, and so damn catchy. It’s definitely got some QOTSA to it, but also a healthy dose of Homme’s old work in Kyuss. And there are so many awesome other influences tucked away within, but at the same time Ad Astra feels like something wholly unique to Stone Sea. These guys have really hit their stride from a writing perspective here, and it gets a damn solid 8/10 from us. Hopefully we don’t have to wait another 10+ years for the next album!
Abissi: Paramagia
Long-time readers of this site will know I’m not the biggest fan of modern hardcore music. However, when it’s infused with some of the chunkiest riffs ever, I’m all of the way down! I don’t know what it is about ‘Funerale in Messico’, but I wanted it pumping directly into my veins from the first moment I heard it. It’s dark and heavy, but swaggering and also has an insanely technical guitar solo in it, having really a bit of everything! ‘Le Chiese’ and ‘Cemento’ are also both BANGERS. I have no idea what is being said throughout, but I don’t need to, the music and vibe speak for it! I’m nervous to say it, but honestly, this is like Turnstile if they were good. If you are at all into that sort of energy, but also with a bit more metal and stoner infusion, this is most certainly the album for you! And (I’m sensing a trend through this list…), it’s short and sweet, not giving me chance to get bored or distracted. Another excellent album that I’d honestly recommend anyone give a try to, as there’s a little bit for everyone. 8.5/10
We had the pleasure of chatting to the upcoming blues guitarist the other week about his recent UK shows, plans for more and what it’s like in the UK compared to back home. Check it all out below!
You’ve exploded onto the scene over the last year or so, how as that time been?
It’s been a great year! As a fan of this blues scene and UK blues players like Robin Trower, Philip Sayce and even Jimi Hendrix, it’s been a real thrill actually getting to have a stab at it myself!
How did you get into the blues scene? It’s not something as mainstream as it used to be!
Honestly, my answer for that would be that when I was in highschool, I took a music history class. My teacher took a special interest in me, really helped me get into this stuff and turned me onto the blues specifically. That’s where I went down the rabbit hole, right there. From there it was straight Stevie Ray Vaughan!
Definitely a good place to start!
You were over in the UK at the start of the year, right? How was the tour?
Yes, I just got back here Sunday last week [at the time of recording]!
It was the best tour of my life, man! I definitely feel like it was the most significant part of my career so far. It felt like a monumental experience for me. The Cluny [Newcastle], that crowd, the amount of love I received was unreal. I literally jumped off the stage into the crowd on the last song!
What’s the scene like back home compared to over here?
I mean, I don’t want to talk bad about my local music scene, but I would say for me personally that the scene in Scotland and the North East of England is incomparably better for me. I have better results.
Is it a case of it being a bit more saturated out there for that kind of music?
I guess so, yeah.
Your band for the tour were called The Yorkshire Puddings, how did that name come about?
Well, I met the guys on my last tour back in August with my band from America, we came and played like six shows in England and Scotland. These guys were opening for me in Newcastle. I met them there and we were borrowing their drum kit. The name came from… I wanted to have a way to separate the bands. One day when we look back on it, I didn’t want everything to be under the same name, I wanted the backing bands to be documented. The same way Jimi Hendrix had the Band of Gypsys and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, I wanted to do something like that! We wanted it to be something that people could look at it and instantly tell that it’s a British band.
And then you’re back over here in September, right? I saw you were announced for a festival!
I’m actually back in August! September is the last date of the run. I think we already have like eight shows in August. Then we’ve got Europe too, we’re playing Berlin in July.
Have you done much out in Europe before?
Never, just England and Scotland. I’m so excited to get into the German scene! It’s been a real privilege getting started in England and Scotland, I have a serious appreciation and love in my heart for both. The way these countries have embraced me has really helped my early career.
In terms of studio stuff, are you sticking to singles for now? Is there a longer release on the way?
We plan on something longer, of course, but for now we’re just trying to write songs, record them and put them out, you know. We’re recording one right now, actually!
I feel like it’s quite hard to put out these days. It’s geared towards singles but it’s so hard to keep up the grind sometimes!
Yeah! I’m going to put out some live recordings, too. I love live recordings; if I ever get one I really like I’ll put it out! From our last tour we got some, just takes a couple of weeks, you know!
Do you have a dream tour lineup you’d want to be a part of?
I mean, not so much a dream lineup, more so a lineup of countries. There’s so many people I’d love to tour with, I could list 30 people right now! You know, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, the guys who are still standing! A tour with Eric Clapton would be great!
If you could have written a song from history, what would it have been?
Low key actually, ‘Johnny B. Goode’. I was saying this just the other day, that I can’t believe Chuck Berry made that song. Like he’s not covering it, he made that song. How someone wrote something so good is amazing. So I think I’d go with that!
