Ruf Records
It’s hard to believe that The Zac Shulze Gang only came together five years ago in Gillingham, England. In that short space of time, the trio have stormed stages across the UK, Europe, and even America – a feat many bands never achieve in a lifetime. Now, with their debut album Straight To It released on Ruf Records, they’ve taken the energy of their live shows and bottled it into eleven blistering tracks.
A bold opening
The record kicks off with “The Rocker,” an unapologetic blast of blues-rock that sets the pace for everything that follows. Zac Shulze’s guitar work is fiery and unrelenting, matched by his raw and impassioned vocals. Together with Ben Shulze on drums and Ant Greenwell on bass, the band wastes no time in laying down their intent.
Power and texture
Tracks like “I Won’t Do This Anymore” highlight the group’s ability to balance grit with groove. The song begins with a wailing harmonica before erupting into a storm of driving guitars, pounding bass, and thunderous drums. Just when you think the album might be all firepower, along comes “Angeline” – a track that strips things back slightly and allows Zac’s more nuanced vocal side to shine through. It’s a reminder that this is no one-dimensional outfit; they can shift gears and still hold your attention.
A debut that matters
For a band formed just five years ago, The Zac Shulze Gang already feel like seasoned contenders. Their reputation as one of the most exciting rising blues-rock bands in the Western world is well earned, and Straight To It only reinforces that status. This isn’t just a promising debut – it’s a statement of intent.
If you haven’t heard it yet, make a point of doing so. Straight To It is the kind of album that doesn’t just ask to be played loud – it demands it.
STEPHEN HARRISON
