What better way for a band to commemorate a twenty-fifth anniversary than with a new EP? A quarter of a century in any game is a long time, but in the topsy turvy world of rock n’ roll it’s an eternity. However, if any band were a sure bet to go the distance it was Edmonton’s Black Stone Cherry, a quartet who’ve not only survived the grinder but positively thrived, delivering eight studio albums that are impervious to fads and trends and sound as fresh as the day they were released. The aptly-titled Celebrate is no exception and finds the band marking their current milestone in style whilst simultaneously signposting a bright future.

The secret to Black Stone Cherry’s longevity is undoubtedly their ability to mix things up and throw the odd surprise into the mix, and that’s something opening (and title) track ‘Celebrate’ achieves with great aplomb. The staccato riff which kicks things off immediately snares the listener, then the band set about reeling them in with a song that swings with wrecking ball force. Like a heavyweight boxer throwing all sorts of neat moves, ‘Celebrate’ (and, indeed, the whole record) is at once crushingly heavy and fleet of foot. It’s a good metaphor for the band’s career; as with the proverbial rolling stone, there’s no chance of Black Stone Cherry gathering moss, their perpetual motion ensures that things never become staid. Case in point being the following ‘Neon Eyes’; after the dense sonics of ‘Celebrate’, ‘Neon Eyes’ inserts plenty of white space, the result being a song that utilises the full dynamic range and evokes images of desert plains and wide open vistas.

Throughout their career Black Stone Cherry have managed to walk a fine line between challenging themselves as songwriters and musicians and pleasing their legion of fans. As with AC/DC, Black Stone Cherry tend to give their fans what they want and like Australia’s finest they deliver a sound that’s deceptively simple. Their trademark Southern rock swing is very much in evidence on cuts such as ‘Caught Up In The Up Down’ (and if a band started cranking this out in your local biker bar, you’d know you were in for a good evening), yet there’s also the unorthodox rhythms on ‘I’m Fine’ that’ll stop even seasoned fans in their tracks and prick up their ears.

Another breaking ball is thrown into the mix on closing track, a cover of the old Simple Minds song ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’. Originally used on the end credits of John Hughes’ film The Breakfast Club, it’s a song that Simple Minds have (for some unfathomable reason) tried to distance themselves from, yet Black Stone Cherry seem happy to claim ownership. And they do: imparting their own personality on proceedings (which is how all covers should be handled), Cherry’s version has that kind of “effortless hit” vibe so don’t be surprised when you hear this cut blasting from every car and transistor radio.

An intriguing release that finds Black Stone Cherry marching forwards and taking a moment to honour everything that made them great. It’s time to join the celebration!

• Celebrate is released via Mascot Label Group on 6th March 2026.

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Track List:

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)