Ashton Irwin Rocks Out With Heartfelt Lyrics in Part 1 of New Album, Blood on the Drums
Written by: Mikaila Storrs
Having had The Thorns half of Blood on the Drums on repeat all morning, I still can't pick a favorite song. Each track is so captivating that I'm utterly obsessed with every single one. This is a true testament to Ashton’s songwriting and overall artistry that comes through across the album.
Although each song has its own spice and flair, it is extremely cohesive, with every song making me want to get up and dance and sing along. Or, better yet, roll down the windows and drive on the coast while belting the lyrics, which I assume is how he meant for this to be listened to.
Admittedly, some of the songs on Ashton’s first album, Superbloom, weren’t my favorite, and I thought that maybe I didn’t connect to Ashton’s solo music as much as I did when he wrote with the rest of the 5 Seconds of Summer boys. However, Blood on The Drums, so far, has completely changed my mind, and I think you can see how much confidence he has gained in himself since his previous work as a solo artist.
As a fan of Ashton and John Feldmann's collaborations on albums like Sounds Good Feels Good and 5SOS5, I was eager to hear their latest work together. The result is magical—I can’t stop bopping my head along to the songs, and I'm sure I'll have all the lyrics memorized in no time. I also want to give a shoutout to Matthew Pauling, who produced Ashton’s first album and worked on songs like “Breakup” on this one. He absolutely nailed it.
Standout songs for me are “Breakup,” “Last Night of My Life,” “Lose You,” and “Indestructible.” What really impresses me is how vulnerable the lyrics are, always paired with a catchy rock tune. Whether it has an 80s influence, alt-pop vibe, or straight-up rock and roll, he seamlessly blends these styles with heartfelt lyrics. As he navigates the last decade of his life in the spotlight and how it affected him, you can see yourself in these human experiences. Lyrics like “This could be the last night of my life, so why am I here pretending to like all of these people who stuck in a knife?” reflect a common human experience—the desire to fit in, only to later regret the moments you weren’t your genuine self. It’s important to realize that everything is borrowed time, and you never know when it could be the last night of your life.
I am eagerly anticipating the second half of this album, but while I wait, I will continue to have this on repeat and hopefully be able to check out his one-night-only performance at The Belasco on July 18.
