An intense, hard-hitting alt-rock album, ‘Purgatory Road’ is the perfect blend of poignant, evocative lyricism and melancholic, deep guitar distortions – a combo that we are pretty fond of. Penned by American musician Ryan Tobin, the record showcases the nostalgic alt-rock flair the project has to offer, together with a certain eclecticism in its compositional choices. It’s built around heartwarming, melodic vocals, with clean guitars often helping getting the message across.
There’s also a veiled grunge aura around the whole album, although it’s obvious how Tobin simply borrows the last 20 years (and more) of rock tradition, then bending it to his own will. A will that includes anthemic walls of sound, yet also mellower sections and meaningful songwriting. ‘Broken Spear’ is the perfect example of that, a wonderful ballad that still packs lots of character and energy. From ‘Wrong Side Down’ onwards, the album takes an acoustic orientation, allowing us to appreciate Tobin’s earthy and emotional vocals in a different light.
Behind such musical goodness, there’s a rather delicate message, with Ryan writing about his own struggles with addiction, anxiety and PTSD. As he explains: “My time spent in music is a window into the conversations I’ve had with my higher power, prayer, and others who have impacted my life in a spiritually positive way.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Purgatory Road’ on Spotify:
