2025 saw Glaswegian altrock trio Anchor Lane have a bit of a quieter year, focusing on writing and recording two excellent singles in “Six Foot, Six Pack, Sigma” and “Follow Me Down” as well as a handful of live shows. However, 2026 has them with their foot to the floor with the release of their latest single, the tease of more to follow and a ridiculous number of live commitments across the UK between a third King Tut’s show in September, festival slots and a tour supporting The Dead Collective.
And right in time for their Scottish weekender, “Five Knuckle Shuffle” has the band picking up where those previous singles left off. It’s an untethered monster, clocking in at three minutes as a short but fierce number and whilst the lyrics may detail a disagreement getting physical, there’s no sign of a Napoleon complex. Rather, it delves into the psychology and how these situations can escalate.
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The song starts with an undercurrent of danger before it kicks into life with a filthy riff and drums akin to some of Foo Fighters’ punchiest hits. The pair of them size each other up before the song explodes into the chorus, bringing their trademark intensity to a new peak. The drums are relentless, blending force with speed, Graeme Newbury knowing exactly which to use with precision. On the verses, the guitars run at breakneck pace, crunching and chugging, intertwining around each other before they take on bulkier tones in the chorus then become even beefier when they launch into the breakdown. Speaking of which, it’s a thing of beauty, one which makes you want to throw yourself across the room, playing it loud enough will make your neighbours think there’s a real fight going on next door.
For a band who have always worked well with dynamics in their music, here, the lows aren’t quite so low and it allows them to keep the intensity at a more consistent level rather than a whiplash-inducing change. It’s all about serving the song and there’s plenty of other tracks in the band’s catalogue for those in search of bigger peaks and valleys.
“Five Knuckle Shuffle” is one of those songs which is modern yet manages to evoke a sense of nostalgia without being a cliched throwback. Anchor Lane’s authenticity continues to be unquestionable but there’s a sense this is what they’ve always been building to.
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“Five Knuckle Shuffle” is out now
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