THESE WICKED RIVERS - FIRE AND FOLKLORE

Ain't No Smoke gives us a guitar driven opener with an infectious rhythm. John's vocals as usual are on point, especially for this heavier blues rock style that is synonymous with These Wicked Rivers.

Horse To Water was played on Planet Rock radio loads when released as a single, and was a great introduction to the new music arriving with Fire and Folklore. A southern rock infused beauty, with great riffs and a chorus that just begs to be sang along with.

This will definitely get the crowd participation going...

Rise is a slow burner with a beat that will have you tapping on that steering wheel if listening on the road, and to be fair, so far this definitely has the potential to be a road trip must play album.

Better Man is just a beautiful sounding power ballad in every sense of the word, followed by Sing Another Song which is a wonderful tune featuring Kezia Gill. A very modern country sounding track that shows the beautiful way that River's aren't just a one trick pony. This is a beautiful collaboration.

Brother Oh Brother brings a totally different style which just works as this album ebbs and flows track by track, before Love To Love brings back that heavier blues style that you just get swept along with, and is a another fabulous track. As with many of the tracks, you just know there will be some epic soloing going on.

The Healing slows down the pace slightly with a track that builds steadily and has a great foot tapping chorus. Welcome to the church of TWR.

Woodland Queen is an upbeat rocker with a wonderful vibe throughout. Lots of lifts, and different again to the rest of the album.

We finish this listening experience with a track called Stories, and as the title suggests is in the style of a story being told, which works beautifully and has a nice vibe throughout, with some welcome harmonica laced in.

Fire and Folklore is a wonderful collection of music covering many styles whilst keeping each and every one unique to These Wicked Rivers. This is just a great album and would grace anyone's music collection.

Review by Will Carter

Release date 2nd October 2026