"This Troubled Soul" is a standout single from Australian alternative rock band Highroad No. 28, serving as a precursor to their album The Will to Endure. Recorded at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne and mixed by James Taplin, the track showcases the group's return to form after a lengthy hiatus, delivering heavy yet introspective rock that prioritizes emotional depth over sheer volume.
The song opens with a brooding, atmospheric build—subdued guitars and a restrained rhythm section that sets a shadowy tone. Highroad No. 28 (led by Andrew J. Cantwell on guitars, vocals, and keys, alongside Andrew Breeze on drums and Jeff Newton on bass) crafts a sound that's dark alt-rock at its core: gritty, bruised, and unhurried. There's a cinematic quality to the production—patient layering that evokes a sense of quiet gravity, as if the music is holding its breath before exhaling raw vulnerability.
Vocally, Cantwell's delivery is weathered and fragile, carrying the weight of lived experience. The central refrain—"this troubled soul, she's back again and I'm down so low"—lands with bruising honesty, painting a portrait of recurring inner turmoil, fragility, and the struggle to endure. It's not explosive despair; it's the slow, persistent ache of someone who's been here before and knows the cycle all too well. Lyrics weave themes of emotional bruises, yearning for light amid darkness, and the quiet defiance of pushing forward, making the track feel like a personal confession wrapped in rock muscle. Musically, the arrangement builds gradually—starting in restrained, almost subdued territory before swelling into heavier, more unified moments that hit with controlled power.
The guitars carry a raw edge, the rhythm section provides a steady, grounding pulse, and subtle keys add atmospheric depth without overwhelming the intimacy. It's bleak yet beautiful, proving that intensity doesn't always require shouting; sometimes the most powerful statements come from stillness and restraint.
Fans of dark alt-rock acts (think echoes of early Deftones in moodier phases, or the emotional heft of bands like Failure or even modern Australian heavy rock peers) will find a lot to connect with here. It's music for late nights, reflection, and those moments when endurance feels like the only option left.
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