As the four horsemen appear on the horizon and the world hurtles towards Armageddon, what we need more than ever is a shot of raunchy rock n’ roll, and arriving just in time are Atlanta’s Starbenders. Following up their critically-acclaimed 2023 outing Take Back The Night with a surprise left hook, The Beast Goes On takes all that was good about its predecessor and turns it off the dial, delivering a (lucky) thirteen tracks which shine and shimmer like stars in a crystalline sky. Succinctly capturing the energy of their live shows, The Beast Goes On proves Starbenders the true saviours of rock n’ roll.
Melding dazzling glam rock to a distinctly dark brand of modern metal, Starbenders have a sound that will appeal equally to fans of both. Of course, blending genres is no easy science; get that fusion wrong and fumble the ball and a band can find themselves in a kind of musical no man’s land with no appreciative crowd to play to. Fuse those chemicals correctly, however, and a group can strike gold and send sparks flying in all directions. The album’s opening (and title) track proves Starbenders master alchemists and it lights up the night like fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Cuts such as ‘Nothing Ever Changes’ and ‘Chantilly Boy’ are the very epitome of sexy rock n’ roll, sensual and soulful, they make a beeline for the memory bank and become earworms of the highest order: but be warned, once they’ve burrowed to the centre of your cranium, they won’t be leaving anytime soon.
What makes Starbenders such an intriguing proposition is their ability to create a real sense of time and place through music. With a core sound and an exploratory nature that knows no boundaries they produce vivid soundscapes that place the listener in the heart of the action. Take the single ‘Tokyo’, for example; it conjures images of a rain-soaked, neon-lit Blade Runner cityscape and is akin to a pillion ride through a futuristic dystopia. To create such three-dimensional experiences through music is no mean feat, it’s something that can’t be taught in school, and only occurs when certain musicians come together, but thankfully it’s a quality Starbenders have in abundance and turns cuts such as ‘To Be Alright’ (and the whole album) into living, breathing entities.
Departing like a star exploding (which is exactly as they appeared), Starbenders wrap up this album with the unforgettable ‘21st Century (Digital Boy)’, a track that promises much greatness. Expect to see Starbenders headlining festivals sometime soon.
- The Beast Goes On is released via Sumerian Records on 27th February 2026.
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Track List:
1. The Beast Goes On
2. Nothing Ever Changes
3. Chantilly Boy
4. Cold Silver
5. Forever Mine
6. hello goodbye
7. Tokyo
8. Saturday
9. Summon My Heart
10. Somebody Else
11. To Be Alright
12. June
13. 21st Century Digital Boy
