Highroad No. 28 delivers a dark, powerful alt-rock tale of conflict and self-realisation, ‘Thistroubledsoul’!

The Aussie alt-rock project furthers its returning impetus and influence upon the alt-rock scene with the release of this second single, ‘Thistroubledsoul’ leading up to their full album release, ‘The Will To Endure’.

Listening to ‘Thistroubledsoul’ delivers an emotional gut punch, exposing raw, heartbroken emotions combined with darkly cinematic alt-rock musicality. It kind of reminds one of Twenty One Pilots’s ‘Heavydirtysoul’ but this is more patient and hits deeper.

We open onto ominous, wailing guitars and crashing drums, a startling, chaotic arrangement that immediately has your attention. Layers of brooding, haunting atmospherics make this feel very much like a story of a person approaching their breaking point.

The vocals, nasal and emotional, sing gravelly of being caught up in a devastating, soul-crushing relationship. “She’s back again, and I am down so low,” kind of sums it all up. The lyrics honestly emphasize what it means to be stuck in such a painful conflict, that its beginning almost erodes one’s very soul.

Musically, Highroad No.28 delivers an honest, balanced soundscape in ‘Thistroubledsoul’. The pacing is gradual and patient, in no particular rush to express the soul-crushing emotions. However, there’s a subtle balance between sadness and hope too. Piercing minor chords and evocative synths really tug at the heartstrings all throughout, while the nonchalant guitar strums give grit and character.

We particularly enjoyed the concluding section that takes a delightfully upbeat melodic turn before concluding smartly. It speaks volumes to the group’s fearlessness in being able to dive into such painful, vulnerable emotions while also being able to convey a sort of silver lining in their own way.