Whether through Waxwing or his solo work, Rocky Votolato has always found a home in my record collection. His voice has long been a constant companion—empathetic, steady, and uniquely his—guiding me through both the bright and bleak moments of life.
I’ll admit I had lost touch with Votolato’s recent output, so I was genuinely excited to discover he had a new band, Suzzallo, alongside bassist Steve Bonnell (Schoolyard Heroes) and drummer Rudy Gajadhar (Waxwing). Even more surprising: this wouldn’t be a return to stripped-back acoustic introspection, but a loud, electric, full-band project. Then came the devastating punchline—the band’s formation was born from grief. Votolato lost his child in a tragic car accident a couple of years ago, and The Quiet Year is the sound of trying to survive the aftermath.
“Grief is just love with nowhere to go,” Votolato says in this New Noise Magazine interview. That sentiment pulses through every track. The Quiet Year is part love letter, part catharsis, and part attempt at healing. It’s emotionally raw and unflinchingly personal. When Votolato sings “I hope one day when I wake up, we’ll be together,” it breaks something in you. When he screams, it’s not performative—it’s pain made audible, loss transformed into sound. This is emotional punk rock from a heart patched together with duct tape.
And as heavy as all of this is, it’s also a remarkable record in its own right. The Quiet Year doesn’t just resonate because of its tragic origin—it’s musically sharp, dynamic, and urgent. Opener River sets the tone with crashing waves of feeling, and The Destroyer is nothing short of breathtaking.
So here’s what I suggest: put on your headphones, step outside, press play on River, and start walking. Let the guitars howl. Let the rhythm smash. Let the words hit. Let the feelings come. This is why music matters.
The Quiet Year is out now on LP with the support of a succesful Kickstarter campaign.