“THISTROUBLEDSOUL” By Highroad No. 28

Highroad No. 28 returns with a gripping and emotionally weighty second single, “Thistroubledsoul,” a track that feels less like a casual listen and more like an internal reckoning set to sound. Distributed worldwide via The Orchard (Sony Music), the song is now available across all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, Deezer, and TIDAL, making it easily accessible to a global audience hungry for authentic alternative rock. From its opening moments, “Thistroubledsoul” establishes a dark, cinematic atmosphere that immediately draws the listener into its world of introspection, vulnerability, and emotional endurance.

The track is built on brooding guitar textures, restrained yet powerful bass lines, and a slow-burning structure that allows emotion to unfold naturally rather than rushing toward impact. There’s a deliberate patience in the arrangement; each section breathes, creating space for the song’s emotional gravity to settle in. The guitars feel expansive and cinematic without becoming overwhelming, while the rhythm section anchors the track with a steady, almost meditative pulse. Recorded at Sing Sing Recording Studios in Melbourne and mixed by James Taplin, the production strikes a balance between polish and rawness, ensuring the song never loses its human edge.

Frontman Andrew JC delivers a performance that is both restrained and deeply affecting. Knowing that Andrew performed all instruments and vocals on this release adds another layer of intimacy to the song; it feels like a direct transmission of thought and feeling rather than a collaborative abstraction. His vocal delivery carries a quiet intensity, conveying emotional fatigue, resilience, and reflection without resorting to melodrama. Instead of overpowering the listener, the vocals pull you closer, inviting you to sit with the discomfort and honesty embedded in the lyrics.

“Thistroubledsoul” explores the unseen battles people carry, the emotional scars that rarely surface but shape who we are. The song speaks to endurance rather than resolution, acknowledging pain without pretending it disappears. This thematic direction aligns perfectly with Highroad No. 28’s long-standing identity: confronting darkness while refusing to surrender to it. The track continues the narrative path toward the upcoming third album, The Will to Endure (due December 2025), following the earlier single “Ache.” Together, these releases signal a darker, more mature, and emotionally direct chapter for the band.

There’s also a strong sense of legacy embedded in this release. Formed in 1998, Highroad No. 28 has never shied away from difficult emotional terrain, and “Thistroubledsoul” feels like a culmination of decades of lived experience, creative evolution, and artistic honesty. While the band prepares to unveil a new live lineup for 2026 shows, this solo-driven studio phase serves as a reflective pause, one that reconnects the project with its core values before moving forward again.

“Thistroubledsoul” is not just a song; it’s an emotional statement. It stands as a testament to resilience, vulnerability, and the quiet strength found in simply enduring. For fans of alternative rock that values depth over excess and emotion over spectacle, this release is essential listening. Highroad No. 28 reminds us that survival itself can be powerful, and sometimes the most meaningful battles are the ones fought within. This is a track that lingers long after it ends, inviting repeat listens and deeper reflection with each return.

Written by Manuel