High on Stress sounds like the kind of band that’s spent decades inhaling bar smoke, chasing last call, and turning hard miles into sharp hooks. Earlier this year, we shared their take on Tommy Keene’s Nothing Can Change You (in our monthly overview of favorite cover songs), but they are even more awe-inspiring (and more satisfying) with original material.

On studio album number six, aptly titled Still Here, the Minneapolis quartet sharpens their wear-and-tear spirit into a dozen guitar-driven anthems that hit the sweet spot between pub rock toughness, power pop punch, and alt-country swagger (a sound you rarely hear these days but which works surprisingly well). The riffs are big and make you at least nod your head along, the rhythm section plays loose and grooving, the lead vocals are raw and charismatic, and the songwriting carries enough lived-in grit to keep things grounded. It makes for a ragged but soulful blast of heartland rock ’n’ roll done right.

Still Here is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP, through Rum Bar Records. Featuring Nick Leet (vocals, guitar, piano, organ), Chad Wheeling (guitar), Jim Soule (bass, backing vocals), and Mark Devaraj (drums).

Add to wantlist @ Bandcamp: High on Stress || Rum Bar