WALTER TROUT – Sign of the Times (2025) *HQ*
It is difficult to put into words the emotions evoked by a new WALTER TROUT album. Inevitably, it starts with a look back to 2013 when became apparent that Walter was grievously ill. Urgently needing a liver transplant, Walter found himself literally hours from death. But after a long recovery, he has barely left the stage since.
It’s been twelve years since the fateful news first broke, and, in that time, Walter has released six albums – each one not merely a reminder of Walter’s exceptional talent, but rather more a showcase for the rich vein of humanity that has always underpinned his work.
Walter’s title of his upcoming twenty-first studio album, ”Sign Of The Times”, indicates its lyrical element. Trout writes about being a low-tech guy in a high-tech world on “Artificial,” how everything seems synthetic. “I can’t tell what’s real anymore” he shouts on the roaring, thumping rocker after blowing furious harmonica leading into one a scorching guitar solo.
He unleashes some howling, soulful, Hendrix-influenced intensity on “No Strings Attached.” It references a person who lives in a place where “your heart turns black and shrivels” and there is “no love inside your heart” on one of the set’s most frightening selections.
The title track shifts to almost metal-ish hard rock, thrashing through lyrics of “My phone is buzzin’ but I still feel alone” as chanting, near demonic male backing vocals create further tension. His playing takes on a frightening edge as the band cooks like a bubbling cauldron.
Trout also provides sonic respites from the aural storms. He unplugs for the lovely “Mona Lisa Smile” a love song as tender as any he has written. It’s a superb, melodic ballad that feels as genuine and heartfelt as the disc’s more frantic moments and even includes a sweet acoustic solo.
He heads down to the delta for the slow burn of “Too Bad,” a tribute to Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. It’s stripped back to just harmonica and acoustic guitar, an indication of how capable Trout also is in a softer format.
But he returns to the heat on the searing closing “Struggle to Believe,” taking his longest and arguably hottest solo as organ, bass and drums from his longtime band propel the jam. “The values I once thought to be essential, we now watch them disappear” he howls in disappointment, matching that with roaring vocals and stinging playing.
It slams the door on ‘Sign of the Times,” another powerful notch in Walter Trout’s expansive catalog belt. It’s a soaring example of the blues rocker journeyman’s talents and hard-won persistence.
Highly Recommended
01 – Artificial
02 – Blood on my Pillow
03 – Sign of the Times
04 – Mona Lisa Smile
05 – Hurt No More
06 – No Strings Attached
07 – I Remember
08 – Hi Tech Woman
09 – Too Bad
10 – Struggle to Believe
Pre order:
amazon.com/Sign-Times-Walter-Trout/dp/B0FBS5ZD6T
