It seems forever since 2023’s ‘Screamin’ at the Sky’ which eschewed ballads, rocked hard and delivered 12 blistering tracks, unless that is you bought the special digital limited edition which also included bonus track “Love Somebody” and covers of “Burning Love” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, making 15 new recordings is all. Three years on we are looking at a sleeker new offering – a new EP with just 7 tracks and one of them a cover of Simple Minds “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” featuring Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman.
If you’ve already checked out the lead single ‘Neon Eyes’ and second single and title track ‘Celebrate’ then you’ve already heard the best of the original material here. To make matters slightly worse for fans and collectors it appears that this will be a digital only release from Mascot. Now as a long time fan of the band who has managed to collect every release the band has put out so far (including all the promo singles over the years) all of a sudden there’s a gap. But frustrating as that may be for some like me this is all about the music and Black Stone Cherry is a band that never lets you down.
Digitally available on 6th March 2026 via Mascot Records there’s not long to wait and it all yet again underlines that these guys are the perfect storm of a melting pot that takes in rock, metal, roots, blues and soul , and unlike many they get even better with age. Chris Robertson sums it up: “I look at these songs on the EP as a culmination of everything we’ve lived since Screamin’ At The Sky.”
Looking at it track by track…
‘Celebrate’ of course has a great video and is all about what it’s like to be stuck in something, whether that be a boring job or maybe stuck in your own head, and how any little opportunity can lead to a small victory! It’s a song about celebrating every little thing in life, even if it’s just making it through the day. It’s the type of fist-pumping banger that Black Stone Cherry does so well and destined to be a fan favourite from the moment the crawling riff buzzes in and Chris vocals soar to the chorus. The more you play it the more addictive it gets.
‘Neon Eyes’ adds a an almost funky, floating counter-punch that has a trance-like refrain that has you nodding knowingly. It’s these contrasts that Black Stone Cherry do so well.
‘Caught Up In The Up Down’ is back to that heavy groove as Chris almost raps the verse and shows that BSC are the kings of dynamics. The groove nails it
In a way the EP sounds like a great collection of new ideas, offering a sneak into what we might expect on the next full length. The press release notes “a dreamily woozy, Nirvana-laced grunge singalong (on) ‘I’m Fine'” but in reality there’s more BSC thrust in the mix, and I hear far mor AIC than Seattle’s best know ‘Grungers’. However you hear it, there’s no doubt it’s a very cool song.
Now whilst ‘Screaming at the Sky’ had nothing close to a balled the heart wrenching ‘Deep’ shows you just what we were missing. This is a real highlight here, a bonafide ‘lighters in the air’ moment that anyone who has lost a love can relate to. Going out on a limb it might just be my current favourite here.
On an EP that doesn’t put a foot wrong ‘What You’re Made Of’ might just be the heaviest. Man those melodies just hit the right note and the muscular guitar just works perfectly in the mix stabbing against Chris’ vocal and ending in a fiery solo that has three parts. This is just so cool and made to be played loud!
The final track comes as another curveball: ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me) ft. Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman’ might not be the most obvious cover, with the original all 80’s pop excess and pomposity, but in the hands of BSC and with the help of Tyler Connolly (Theory Of A Deadman) it becomes more of an anthem than it ever was. This cover has some real grunt, great guitars and the all too familiar chorus is well and truly nailed. It’s inspired! I can already hear this being played live! It will be lapped up…
Produced by the band themselves, Celebrate is an EP of contrasts and a nice addition to the band’s rich catalogue. And as always they always leave you wanting more!
Even between albums BSC show why they are the masters of modern hard and heavy music. You will love this even if you will (maybe) never get to hold it.
9/10
Track Listing
1. Celebrate
2. Neon Eyes
3. Caught Up In The Up Down
4. I’m Fine
5. Deep
6. What You’re Made Of
7. Don’t You (Forget About Me) ft. Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman
