Release Date: July 24th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD
Heavy On The Ride - Tracklist
On Deaf Ears
Red Walls
Somewhere In Between
Chef’s Kiss
Cheshire Cat Grin
Interludes
Almost Alive
Sunseeker
I Owe You Nothing
Catharsis
Album personnel
Jordan Huxtable - Guitars / Vocals
Michael Bale - Bass / Vocals
Jason Young - Drums
Heavy on the Ride current line up
Jordan Huxtable - Guitar / Vocals
Michael Bale - Bass / Vocals
Sam Wood - Drums
Ryan Williams - Guitar
Review
I still find it hard to believe that Heavy On The Ride have been going as a band since 2009 and they’re just getting round to releasing their self-titled debut album. The band have released various releases over the years and have shared the bill and stages with the likes Mondo Generator, B’Last, Avon, Alain Johannes, Star & Dagger, Hippie Death Cult, Black Moth, Green Lung, Sky Valley Mistress, Goat Major and more.
Their debut album is a mixture of classic grooves and super tight anthems inspired by the likes of Melvins, Baroness, Mastodon, BORIS, Torche, The Sword, Monster Magnet and QOTSA. That doesn’t tell half the story as Heavy On The Ride deliver a deliciously daring POP sound behind the scenes with melodic vocals and super-tight DOOM-POP melodies which have a certain Space Rock element to them. However, Heavy On The Ride aren’t afraid to explore some classic Alt Rock and mainstream elements whilst keeping close to a vibrant Sludge Rock attitude.
This is Sludge Rock and Stoner Metal with a danceable energy to it which comes on from the very start with sublime riff structures and some kick-ass Indie Rock sounds. The band always feel like they’re always one step ahead of the competition with the sudden appearance of Stadium Rock movements throughout the album but it’s when the pure metallic energy fully takes centre stage with a sudden influx of Space Rock soundscapes that makes this such a great album to fully explore.
With classic influences from the likes of TORCHE and QOTSA giving Heavy On The Ride a hip and happening sound of their own making. The songs vary in different styles of Sludgy Aggression with freaky amounts of Psychedelic flavours on different sections of the album. Songs such as On Deaf Ears, Red Walls, Somewhere In Between and Cheshire Cat Grin are the standout tracks within the first half of the record that allows Heavy On The Ride to set the whole scene on where the action packed second half that contains the best songs, sounds and experiences on the whole album.
As that’s where the band really find their creative rhythm where they deliver the heaviest and spaced out songs that actually become quite progressive on the likes of Interludes, Sunseeker, I Owe You Nothing and the amazing final track Catharsis that offers a sludgy instrumental of the highest order.
Heavy On The Ride can be quite experimental with perhaps that heavy MELVINS of areas of overlapping distortion and massive slabs of sludge rock hysteria allowing the vocals becoming quite freakish along the way. The sound can be quite abstract and zoned out but in the best possible way. Thanks to the great work by Joe Garcia and Jordan Huxtable on recording duties, Dave Tidmarsh on mixing duties and the legendary Brad Boatright on mastering duties. This is a powerful combination of gritty underground attitude which propels Heavy On The Ride’s debut album as one of the strongest and brilliantly entertaining debut albums I’ve had the pleasure to listen to this year.
Heavy On The Ride have delivered a record with massive potential that should only enhance their musical reputation onto bigger and better things.
Words by Steve Howe
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