Anchor Lane may not have had a busy year with a massive run of dates but they’ve spent a good portion of the year locked away writing and recording new music. The first fruit of their labours was just before a second sold-out show at Glasgow’s King Tut’s (all the good venues must have not been able to accommodate them) with “Six Foot, Six Pack, Sigma” and now they’re back with “Follow Me Down” which was debuted that night.
Having seen them recently perform at Wolverhampton’s Giffard Arms which included this, it instantly captivated me. Part of that is down to the new factor, given that most of their live set is comprised of an album which is almost three years old (how did that happen?) but still remains exceptional. But most of it came from the fact it’s simply a great song, not only continuing to develop their sound but it’s also just a case of them levelling up once more.
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Opening with a groove-filled with chunky riff, it grabs your attention and has you nodding along with it as it swings in tandem with Graeme Newbury’s precision drumming. From the first vocal line, you can tell this one is more personal than “Six Foot, Six Pack, Sigma”. There’s vulnerability and even fragility in the delivery from Conor Gaffney which morphs into hope, defiance and the strength displayed when asking for help. Whilst the trio have always written about real subjects and even the odd number which tugs at your heartstrings, this one feels more mature as if they’ve injected parts of themselves or experience into the lyrics.
As a band who have always made songs which are a lesson in dynamics, this one has it in spades. The soft melody on the verses combine with the heart-pounding thump of the kick drum, evoking a sense of anxiety and the need to focus on breathing. However, it takes on a more joyful tone in the chorus and even has the bounce of classic pop punk belters from the early 00s. The gritty guitars of Conor and Connor Trail fuse together in the middle space where hard rock and alt rock meet, further evolving what Anchor Lane sound like, staying true to their alt rock form but adding in some extra heft and showing what’s next for them.
“Follow Me Down” continues Anchor Lane’s journey with growth and maturity without being po-faced about it. Lyrically, it works as the other side of the previous single and allows the pair to become a commentary on toxic masculinity. But in its own right, it shows Anchor Lane aren’t afraid to bare their soul and be heavy about it at the same time. Not only is this another excellent arrow in their quiver but it would serve as the perfect introduction to the band and potentially a baton pass to their next collection of songs.
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“Follow Me Down” is released on 7th November
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