Abbie Bell & The High Ryes Release A Massive Debut EP
- BuzzSlayers
- 9 hours ago
- 7 min read
A brand new EP release from Abbie Bell & The High Ryes just dropped, and this record exemplifies an outfit that thrives when it comes to bringing together cinematic backbone in country music, as well as not being afraid to really rock out when those times arise.
The EP is a massive one and brings with it amazing sonic presence and drive, but it is never over the top. This is a very well-balanced and dynamically attentive record, but it comes with tons of heart, character, and bursts at the seams with personality, which are all things that I found to be the reasons for this release to be so impactful.
The title of the record is called Slow Burn, and this makes amazing sense, judging by the first track, "Like A Good Drink", as it comes through with a subtle approach and has a great way of building it to something bigger.
The guitar tone and how the whole feel of this song comes through with this vast feel. There is a spacious underbelly to this single, and as the lyrics and vocals get more intense, so does the performance on those guitars and from the rest of the band.
Again, you can tell there's a lot of attention to detail when it comes to the tones of the instruments and how these songs build into something that feels engulfing, in a good way.
A good first chunk of this track is based on guitars, sort of plucking and letting you know that it's meant to be a bit of a calm before the storm, and the vocals and lyrics. Those vocals are Soulful and boast an amazing energy that gives the song itself a slow burn.
Once you get to the chorus, things still have a smooth and sort of spacious flow, but they still get a little bit bigger. You have vocal harmonies that flow through the background and fill the space of the song giving it this sort of ether that lets everything feel like it has more depth.
This track alone showcases amazing layers and is something that swallows you up but still holds strong in terms of giving you a true-to-heart country song. Those lyrics are a country all the way home, and she does such an amazing job of articulating the situation so any normal person can connect with it almost automatically.
This track is followed by "Heavy on the Hell Yeah", which also holds very little back in terms of lyrics but boasts a higher level of energy and intensity throughout.
You could hear some of the same staples you heard on the first track, but this one speaks louder and has a different approach. There's a lot more hard rock on your tone to this track, and the drive is pretty edgy.
She also belts a lot on this one. When she belts out loud like that, you can hear the passion and soul shining through, and it gives her such an amazing presence as an artist in general that you can't turn away.
This is where things start to get a bit more attitude-riddled and character-driven.
This is one of the songs that you hear, and immediately want to go see the band live simply because, if they can capture that kind of aesthetic and energy on record this well, seeing them live must be amazing.
The next song is called "Lost in A Small Town - Acoustic", which is just two acoustic guitars and vocals. This one really hits home and tells an amazing story that you are able to sort of paint a picture within your head as the song unfolds.
This one had a different kind of impact but still felt very personal and super authentic, which gives you the feeling that Abbie writes lyrics and songs that all come from real places, and in doing so, she gives pieces of herself in her music.
"Wildfire" is an instant classic. It's that thriving country rock approach. Amazing energy, and a blend of that edginess, but with a colorful underbelly and attitude, and the whole thing is just explosive.
There are times throughout this record where you can hear plenty of other influences aside from country. There is folk, classic rock, and so much more showing face throughout the record, and a lot of that folk aspect comes through in the final track called "No Souls".
Now, don't get me wrong, this is always Southern-kissed in terms of the songwriting, approach, and especially tone. But there are times when the record views off in different directions, and you get hints of different influences coming through.
This is an EP that you listen to all the way through, in one shot.
In case you haven't picked up on it by everything I've written already, listening to one or two songs will not give you the full spectrum of what the EP offers as a whole.
There are surprises around its corners, a lot of storytelling and personal perspective, inner thoughts that come spilling out for all to soak in, and just an amazing and impactful soul that lets this thing feel alive and breathing.
Upon listening to this record, I wanted to have a sit-down with some of the band to find out more about where all the stuff actually comes from and what might be coming up next for them.
So, while you listen to this EP, read this interview we did with the band below.
Check this out right now, and do not forget where you heard it first.
Let's talk about Slow Burn! This hit all kinds of Country driven approaches, some rocked out herder while others were far more personal and storytelling! Where did this EP come from?
It simply came from a place of "ready-ness." We were feeling heavy after our single "Lights On" didn’t make the wave we had hoped for, and we were trying to figure out what to do next. We wanted to break free from the burden of constant single releases and focus our hearts and minds on a larger project to really hone our sound! We all grew up with albums and continue to listen to albums today, so it felt natural to apply our songwriting/composing skills to an EP. Of course, our producer Sam helped us from the start! He has been the perfect match for our kerosene, tying everything sonically together!
I'm hearing a few different approaches to this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
As a band, we draw inspiration from artists like Cam, Ashley McBryde, Chris Stapleton, Fleetwood Mac, and many others. What we find especially important and something we’ve been determined to preserve in our music, is our upbringing. We don’t shy away from the fact that we’re from the UK, and that naturally brings Brit rock, pop, and even traditional folk influences into our songs.
Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio?
There has been a mixture! We recorded the drums, bass, vocals and some guitars in our rehearsal studio in Edinburgh. Some backing vocals and guitar were recorded in Abbie’s home, and then all the other glue and beautiful arrangements were produced, mixed and recorded in our producer’s studio in England!
Do you guys write songs together, or are there a few main songwriters that bring ideas back to the rest?
Abbie usually kicks things off by writing the lyrics, melody, and structure. Nathan jumps in with the drums, Ross lays down the bass, and then we all get together to shape the song working out the layers, different chords if needed, and making sure the dynamics flow nicely from section to section.
At first, our goal is just to make a track that feels great live. Then we go through a second round, digging into the details to really polish it up and take it to the next level for recording.
How did this all start for you as a band?
What’s cool is that we all found each other after a long break from music. For different reasons, none of us had truly given up, but we’d stepped away for a few years. Then just at the right time, and maybe even by fate we each separately decided we wanted to start making music again, and somehow we all crossed paths.
It all began with Abbie looking for a band to back her original songs, and the rest is history.
Are you performing live right now?
Yes, we have had some shows this year. One of which was our debut performance in the iconic Glasgow venue “King Tuts”, supporting the awesome fellow Scottish artist Robyn Red!
Now that this is out, what's next for you as a band?
We’re aiming to fill our calendar with shows and share the stage with our friends and peers at festivals. It’s time to take the EP on the road! We already have some performances lined up in the diary that we can’t wait to announce.
Most of these songs have been part of our live sets since the very beginning, which is why this EP feels so special. For whatever reason, they never seemed like the right choice to record - until now. We’ve realised they were meant for this moment, for Slow Burn.
We’re beyond excited to finally release them in their best form and to see the reactions from those who’ve been following us from the start
Who's in all your headphones right now?
Abbie, our singer, has been completely obsessed with Kashus Calpepper, a phenomenal country artist from the US. She first discovered him and even got to see him live at the Opry in Nashville, which sparked a deep dive into his music that we’ve all been enjoying.
As a band, we’ve also been having a blast lately cranking up the 80’s classics during rehearsal breaks - Heart, Cher, Pat Benatar, Journey, and Belinda Carlisle, to name a few! Love it!
What would you tell people they can expect on this release?
They can expect a newly refined, high-ryes sound. We’re probably best known for our eclecticism and the way we weave that into the country-Americana genre. Like all new bands, it takes time to truly “find your sound,” and we believe we’ve achieved that with this EP. It’s the clearest reflection of who we are and a glimpse into where we’re headed. Every band member has put their best foot forward, and our entire 2025 have been dedicated to creating this record.
Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music?
Sincere gratitude for allowing us to make the music we want too.
Without sacrificing our authenticity, we truly believe we have a space within the genre we love. We hope you see/hear the passion in all the amazing elements within the EP and how we have woven them together to make what we believe is our best music to date.