Singer, Songwriter, musician and beloved drummer from the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, Ashton Irwin has released his second solo studio album, "BLOOD ON THE DRUMS".
TRACKLIST
Straight To Your Heart
Breakup
BLOOD ON THE DRUMS
I See The Angels
Lose You
Rebel At Heart
Last Night Of My Life
Indestructible
The Canyon
California Holds Her Breath
Little Spark
Wicked Habit
Marry You
Glory Days
Wild Things
Endless Wave
Ashton Irwin is known mostly by many as the drummer from globally popular pop/rock band, 5 Seconds of Summer in whom he's been a part of since 2011. However, he is more than just a drummer - he's a true artist at heart and has a phenomenal voice as well. As the 5SOS boys have been taking more free liberties in the past few years, In 2020, Ashton released a debut solo album titled "Superbloom". Now, four years later he introduces us to "BLOOD ON THE DRUMS", which he has described as "the sound of Ashton Irwin". Mixing unique blends of 80's influence, rock'n'roll and art-pop, Ashton is ready to show us who he is as an artist, away from his bandmates.
Straight To Your Heart
Track one is the leading single of the album, "Straight To Your Heart" which was released in anticipation of the album's release. Let me just start by saying - THIS SONG IS A BOP AND A HALF. I'm shocked that it hasn't gotten more attention. Talk about the perfect track to get somebody hyped for an album. It has everything a hit song needs; a high energy beat, a catchy groove and instrumentation, smooth vocals and a heart-stopping melody, and lyrics that get stuck in your head. Enough said, just listen to it. I promise if you're a pop music fan you're going to love it and be adding it to your playlists. This song has those nostalgic pop rock vibes, it's something I could see Harry Styles coming out with - so if that's someone you're a fan of, I highly suggest giving Ashton a chance.
Breakup
Track two and also the second single, we have "Breakup". Ashton is getting dirty with this dark rock song, featuring heavy electric guitar and a haunting vibe. He shows off his vocal talents by singing in falsetto. "Breakup" is about trying to convince a girl you're interested in to breakup with her boyfriend because she could have a better time with you. It's very rock influenced, with an eerie groove that makes you feel like you're doing something bad - which is the point!
BLOOD ON THE DRUMS
Next, we have the title track and the third single, "BLOOD ON THE DRUMS". It seems like a very vulnerable, personal song to Ashton and it makes a lot of sense why it is the title of this album. Even though Ashton was able to make a career for himself as the Drummer for 5SOS, I feel like he doesn't want to be only known for that. He is an individual, his own person who can make his own art - which is the whole reason he made this album in the first place! I love the soft, acoustic feel to the emotional chorus followed by the heavy rock refrain in this song; and during the verses, you feel like you're just listening to him tell you his story like he's speaking directly to you. The dynamic diversity between sections definitely makes this a stand out track.
I See The Angels
"I See The Angels" has cryptic lyrics and seems to sound the most 5SOS out of all the songs so far. Given the context of what I think the lyrics are about, this may very well have been done on purpose. The pop/rock vibes and gorgeous falsetto moments do remind me a lot of the signature 5SOS sound and I think this song is about feeling a bit trapped within the industry and not getting to be yourself. The entertainment business can be a really dark and toxic place, but Ashton sings of still being able to recognize who the good people in his life are. He sings, "I don't see the light, but I see the angel".
Lose You
UM. OKAY ASHTON?! When I read the title of this song, I expected a sad ballad. Well, I was wrong. This is the one of the catchiest pop bops I've heard all year. "Lose You" is about wanting to throw in the towel for good if you lose this person you love, because you'll never find someone better than them. This song has a hook that will play in my head forever; it features high falsetto and low chest unison vocals that are so smooth and have a melody that repeats in a good way because you just want to hear it over and over again. This is going to be one of my favorite songs.
Rebel At Heart
"Rebel At Heart" is a groovy, nostalgic and raw rock song about a self-destructive person. Life isn't going their way, and instead of facing their issues head on they just drown themselves in bad decisions and negative habits. Again, Ashton shows off his incredible range with smooth falsetto vocals.
Last Night Of My Life
"Last Night Of My Life" in summary, feels like a song about having an existential crisis. Death is something many avoid thinking about in fear of what comes after; Ashton sings of this of this fear - you literally never know when you're going do die. It could be in the next minute, it could be 50 years from now. Another point he makes, is since life is so short and it could end at at any liven second, we shouldn't spend it with people who treat us poorly. Don't waste your breath and time on people who don't deserve it.
Indestructible
"Indestructible" mixes heavy rock with dark electronic pop to create this sort of anti-hero, empowering song. This is for all those people out there who know they're badass even though there isn't anyone else but themselves who believe in them.
The Canyon
The fourth, most recent single released along with the album is "The Canyon". This song is haunting, and although it can probably be interpreted in many ways, this is my take. I think "The Canyon" is a metaphor for depression; its a dark place, that many people fall into. Before I even had this realization of what the song might be about, I was experiencing the music itself and thought to myself - this sounds like an old, Southern American folk song, like something a coal minor would sing during The Great Depression. Then when I read the lyrics, everything started to piece together in my head. Just listen, and watch the music video too; this song is a true work of art. If you've ever struggled with mental health, this is for you. At the end of every tunnel, there is a light.
California Holds Her Breath
People usually see California as the place where people's dreams come true. In "California Holds Her Breath", Ashton sings of a girl who is being held back from happiness because of her career as dancer in California. She doesn't feel like she can be herself anymore because she has to earn a living. It's more broken down than other songs we've heard so far, taking more of an acoustic approach. It's a very beautiful, but tragic song with a gorgeous melody and a euphoric, emotional build at the end with drums and vocal harmonies.
Little Spark
"Little Spark" is one of the more lyrically driven songs on this album I'd say. It's very descriptive in it's imagery and is good at keeping you invested. "Little Spark" is about when you're not necessarily having the best time but you still have that one thing, or person in your life that can make everything better. Even if they're not necessarily there with you physically in that moment, just looking at a picture or remembering that you'll be able to be with them soon is enough to pick you back up. This song has such a catchy little groove and melody - and it has a super cool guitar solo that transports you back into the early 2000's pop/rock era.
Wicked Habit
"Wicked Habit" goes HARD. I just can't imagine listening to this song and not getting to jump around and toss my hair all over the place. It's definitely giving nostalgic hard pop/rock feels. "Wicked Habit" is comparing your feelings to someone to a drug addiction. It may be a little toxic, but you just can't imagine ever living without them. Ashton sings, "Please don't wake me up until you're rushing through my veins, I can't live without a little hit of you".
Marry You
Showing off those sexy falsetto vocals again, Ashton has made up his mind in "Marry You" as he sings about someone who he's 100% sure about. This sensual song has Latino influence in it's rhythm and chords as Ashton tells us a story of someone he's able to be happy around and go on adventures with - ultimately making up his mind that he wants to marry her.
Glory Days
"Glory Days" is about looking back on the fun times you used to have when you were younger; when you would hang out with your friends, do stupid things and felt like you were invincible. Ashton is looking back on these memories fondly, saying "it sounds like a perfect story", but still wishing that things could be that way now, implying that those people he had so much fun with aren't as close with him anymore. "Glory Days" is very 80's pop rock in it's influence and has a cathartic soundscape that draws you in instantly.
Wild Things
"Wild Things", is a stunning folk inspired track filled with acoustic guitar, cinematic drums and keys. This song is about having a partner who struggles with mental health and sees themselves as "too crazy" to be loved; but from Ashton's perspective, he's telling this partner that he loves them no matter what and he wants to be there for them to help them through what they're dealing with on the inside. He doesn't want to be pushed away, and he will follow them wherever they go. It's such a honest, beautiful love song that I feel like a lot of people out there need to hear; and there needs to be more songs like this on the topic of loving someone who suffers with mental illness.
Endless Wave
"Endless Wave" is the final track, bringing this album to a close. I will say, when you listen to this album as a whole and then you get to this song, it's a bit of a culture shock! This has a very classic blues and soul feel to it with a different production style from the rest of the album. It's very mellow, coming down from the excitement and heavy energy that we've experienced from other songs. At this point, it's time to take a deep breath, and just enjoy Ashton's conclusion to this incredible project he has created.
Here we are again with another album this year that is incredibly underrated!! Why am I not seeing more hype about this album?! Ashton Irwin has really outdone himself on this one, creating masterpieces that I'm personally still processing. He's proven that he's a force to be reckoned with and deserves more recognition as a well-rounded solo artist and not just as the drummer from 5 Seconds of Summer. There are bangers on here, there are emotional tear-jerkers, there's rock'n'roll, there's mainstream pop, there's nostalgia, there's relatable songs, there's thought out stories, there's ones that you have to sit and really think about - there are topics on this album that I've never heard anybody else write about! This is a must listen album, so if you haven't heard it yet I suggest you add it to your list now.
Written By Kaitlyn Nicole
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