Highroad No. 28’s latest single, “Thistroubledsoul,” arrives like a storm cloud heavy with electricity—charged, intimate, and impossible to ignore. The Australian alternative rock outfit, renowned for weaving emotional grit into an atmospheric soundscape, takes a decisive leap forward with this release. Distributed worldwide via The Orchard (Sony Music), the track continues the band’s journey toward their forthcoming album The Will to Endure, but it also stands proudly on its own as a defining moment in their evolution. More introspective, more shadowed, and more mature than past releases, “Thistroubledsoul” captures the unsettling quiet of internal struggle while embracing the raw force that pushes us toward resilience. It’s a song that simply lets you sit with it.
What sets this release apart is its deeply personal foundation. While Highroad No. 28 has previously navigated shifting lineups and varying creative arrangements, “Thistroubledsoul” is a solo effort from frontman Andrew JC, who performs every instrument and delivers every vocal line with a controlled emotional ferocity. Recorded at Melbourne’s renowned Sing Sing Recording Studios and mixed by emerging producer James Taplin, the track bears the fingerprints of someone completely immersed in the emotional core of the music. Andrew’s decision to handle everything himself doesn’t make the song feel smaller—instead, it amplifies its cohesion and vulnerability. Listeners are drawn into a world crafted entirely from one troubled soul, and the immersive quality is undeniable.
Musically, “Thistroubledsoul” thrives on contrasts—gentle shadows rising into towering waves of sound. Cinematic guitars swirl with a slow-burning intensity, their reverb-laden edges creating an almost filmic sense of space. Beneath them, brooding bass lines creep forward with deliberate heaviness, grounding the track in a dark emotional register. The production leans into atmosphere without sacrificing clarity, striking a delicate balance between mood and melody. Taplin’s mixing allows the guitars to shimmer like distant headlights cutting through fog, while the rhythm section pulses like a heartbeat on the brink. It’s an immersive, carefully built sonic landscape that mirrors the song’s themes of internal conflict, fragility, and persistence.
Then there are the vocals—raw, cracked at the edges, and devastatingly honest. Andrew’s voice doesn’t aim for perfection; instead, it aims for truth. You can hear every fracture of emotion as he navigates the turmoil of carrying invisible scars. His delivery feels like a confession whispered in isolation, yet somehow spoken loudly enough for the world to hear. The vulnerability here is striking: rather than dressing pain in metaphors, the song lets it breathe, ache, and bleed into every corner of the mix. It’s this emotional transparency that elevates the track beyond typical alternative rock fare, allowing “Thistroubledsoul” to resonate with anyone who knows what it feels like to wage quiet battles that never fully end.
By the time the final notes fade, “Thistroubledsoul” lingers like the echo of a thought you wish you could silence. It’s a powerful reminder of the weight we carry, the strength it takes to endure, and the ways music can act as a mirror and medicine. As Highroad No. 28 prepares for a new live lineup and an album that promises even deeper exploration, this single serves as a compelling statement of intent. Dark yet beautiful, brooding yet melodic, “Thistroubledsoul” proves that the most profound music often comes from the most personal places. With this release, Andrew JC bares his own, and the result is nothing short of arresting.
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