Musical Style: Hard Rock	Produced By: Glenn Montis
Record Label: Independent	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 2025	Artist Website:
Tracks: 12	Rating: 90%
Running Time:

The independent May of 2025 debut full length Narrow Road from Marion, Ohio based Under The Blood draws upon straightforward hard rock with blues rock and Southern rock overtones.  Perhaps due to the at times gruff and grainy and others soulful middle-register vocals of Glenn Montis, but Under The Blood reminds of fellow hard rock acts Weapons Of God and Hammerdown, whom are fronted by vocalists with similar range and style.  Under The Blood is otherwise its own band from keeping its material in the four to five minute range as opposed to the occasional foray into seven to eight minute territory from said contemporaries, particulars you can accept as neutral observation as opposed to critique either way.

Where Under The Blood shares commonality with Weapons Of God and Hammerdown resides in its upfront and faith based prose.  Consider the groups mission statement in this regard: ‘Just some guys using the gifts God gave us to further His kingdom and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.’  The Under The Blood goal with the album likewise is to ‘help bridge the gap between God and those who are still in the world’ (referencing its press material).  Individual songs accordingly are ‘written out of our own testimony of a time in our lives when we were being drawn to Christ, but allowed worldly things and our own selfish pride to keep us from him.’  The group furthermore prays that ‘God may use this music to break down whatever man-made barriers there are between Christ and man- that it may be used as a tool that some might be saved.’

Opener “Stone Cold” represents a quintessential Under The Blood hard rocker.  Song begins to open air guitar that gives way to a groove laden low end and ireful guitars, the mood heavyset and severe from the flickering allure but also unaffected from manner in which Montis lends an effusive element to his delivery akin to Ian Astbury (The Cult).  This one sets the stage for the dauntless inspiration to follow.  Lyric snippet:

I pray to You Lord
I know that this nightmare has all been foretold
But please don’t allow all this evil around us to make our hearts grow cold
Even Your children Oh Lord turn a blind eye to those led astray

I ask for conviction before it’s too late
Please wake up your people today, shake us to the core
Don’t let our hearts grow cold
Let Your love hold true forevermore

Hence, albums ensuing semi ballad hard rock title track, a mid-paced mauler running the gamut from the evenly flowing harmonies covering the first minute and galvanizing guitars to take over for the remaining four to speak of the doom like.  Catalyst decelerates as graceful vocal melodies take over for the rousing refrain.  Instrumental run covering the final minute and half finds the Montis and Ben Johnson guitar team to embody no small ability.

Back to straightforward hard rock with “I Can’t Make It On My Own”.  What we have is a barebones and basic but not simplistic three and half minutes of charging rhythms and no-nonsense riffs that speak of the blues but tumultuous.  Yet, song makes a creative time signature over its final minute to a smoother direction in which layered choir vocals take over.  Brilliant.  Lyric snippet:

I’m callin’ on Your name
‘Cause I can’t do this all alone
I’m beaten down by all the sin and shame
I lay it all before Your throne

You’re callin’ me out to turn from the things I’ve known
I know in my heart, feel it way down in my bones
I need You O’ Lord, a strength not my own

“Long Way Home” tempers to a slower but melody driven direction.  A sportive bass line impels song its span, noting the  inspiring work of David Britton, alongside Southern style harmonies to border on the firsthand, heartfelt refrain is every bit beckoning.  When further factoring the baritone lead vocals, The Rex Carroll Band is a reference point.

“Let It Go” is another forthright hard rocker.  It proves sober and unambiguous - again, feel is basic but not simplistic - with an equal knack for the bluesy and understated hooks.  You can add Resurrection Band to the list of direct comparisons, referencing the fervid Stu Heiss style guitar leads.  Lyric snippet:

I hear You call my name, but we’re so far apart
I know where I need to be, but I just can’t convince my heart
Always some kind of reason, always some kind of excuse
To keep my head in the wrong direction, when I should be crawling back to You

You’re knocking at my door, and I know You want to take me home
This world’s got a  hold on me and it just won’t, it just won’t let me go
Good Lord won’t You help me, I can’t seem to do it on my own

“Wayward Child” manifests the melodic blues driven hard rock Under The Blood specializes.  Carrying over the unequivocal heaviness but in a mid-tempo package, song realizes a catchy guitar riff grounding and clear-cut bass while strategically sidestepping any repetitive predilection.  I find it a treat the creative instrumental passage covering the final two minutes in which the groups descends into Southern style harmonizing.

Halfway into the album and it deserves note the impeccable production, which lends just enough polish but not so much to take away from the group inherent blues and Southern infused energy.

“Never Alone” resonates a laid back ballad flair with a Country twang but without forsaking the Southern elements.  Gist is emotional, genuine and moody, mirroring a smoother if not mellower side to the group as Montis evens out his vocal delivery.  I can see Bride doing something along this line.  Lyric snippet:

When I feel like I can’t breathe, from all the things that burden me
And my heart says I can’t take it anymore
I get down on my knees, I lay it all at His feet
And this peace I feel way deep down in my soul

I know this burden is mine
But to worry is a waste of time
And in Your grace divine, I know I can’t go wrong
If my faith in  You is strong

Initiated by a drum solo, “The Truth In Love” embodies high-octane hard rock with its melodic bass founding - citing the sportive timekeeping of Barry Hensley - and overpowering (do I dare say pop based?) hooks.  Guitar, nonetheless, still delivers a wallop in buttressing inbred Under The Blood exuberance.

Album hits its peak over its final four songs beginning with showstopper “Far Too Long”.  What we have is five melancholic mid-tempo minutes, song impresses of the darkly moving with its reticent angle, trending the lavishly melodic, tightly woven guitar harmonies approach the mesmerizing.  At the three-minute mark, a preacher takes over with narration from the Book of Revelation.  Lyric snippet:

I’ve taken so long, to see this empty man
To feel the weight of the nails in Your hands
Do I follow, or am I just a fan?
It’s time to wake the saint and take a stand

Now each one of us has a choice to make
We can either follow the world, or we can follow Christ
But as for me and my house, let me tell ya what
We’re gonna follow the Lord

If interested in smash mouth hard rock look no further than “Jesus Saves”.  Song proves a pensive mauler, darkly woven with its bluesy Rez Band style guitar work, but also perceptible, when factoring the larger than life groove saddled hooks.  Manner in which vocals rumble with unfeigned, lower register authority articulates of the cudgeling.

“Hold On” resonates of a bluesy metal anthem, downtrodden and disconsolate as feedback driven slide guitar and lower register vocals oversee in swamp like fashion, but also endearing, pointing to the airy backing vocals that command the catchy refrain.  I sense a touch of Red Sea on this one.  Lyric snippet:

Sittin’ on the back porch, and I’m drinkin’ some cherry wine
I’m thinkin’ ‘bout Jesus, and I know I’ve got to change my life
Cause livin’ in a bottle just aint no way to be
Help me Lord Jesus I need You to set me free

I gotta get out of this hole, and I need to break away
But I just sit as the darkness falls and think back to yesterday
Do I call upon Your name, or do I sit here and decay?
Do I go out on my own when I know there’s hell to pay

Album closes to final masterpiece “Today”.  It impresses as a delicately done acoustic ballad over its initial minute and half, at which point browbeating guitar powers in to emphatically impel  things forward.  Catchy riffs touch upon a technical metal based form, interspersing with occasional beauteous guitar melodies, and hooks the unhesitating, daring to be ridden of your mind.  Wonderfully, final minute and half is instrumental- the Montis and Johnson guitar team is a force deserving reckon.

If into hard rock with an at times bluesy and others Southern edge and have yet to purchase Under The Blood debut Narrow Road, what are you waiting for?  Album checks all the boxes: fitting gritty mid-register vocals, complementary blues drenched hard rock guitars, consistent songwriting (not a skip button among the 12 tracks) and refined but not to fault production.  If a fan of any of the noted artists - Weapons Of God, Hammerdown, Bride, Rez Band, Red Sea and others of similar form - I give the album the highest recommendation.  Let’s hope these guys get picked up by a label!

Review by Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “Stone Cold” (3:41), “Narrow Road” (4:52), “I Can’t Make It On My Own” (3:20), “Long Way Home” (4:52), “Let It Go” (3:46), “Wayward Child” (3:56), “Never Alone” (4:43), “The Truth In Love” (4:10), “Far Too Long” (4:45), “Jesus Saves” (3:47), “Hold On” (4:55), “Today” (4:58)

Musicians
Glenn Montis - Lead Vocals & Guitar
Ben Johnson - Guitar
David Britton - Bass
Barry Hensley - Drums