“We got it started and we aren’t gonna stop,” sings Zac Schulze towards the end of “Keep It Up,” and that line sums up the spirit of “Straight To It” perfectly. This is an album that hits hard from the first note and never takes its foot off the gas.
“The Rocker” – track two here – is aptly named. It’s straight down the line, urgent and insistent, with a swagger that channels classic ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll energy. The solo is manic and electrifying, the sound of a player in complete command yet teetering on the edge of chaos. That same feeling runs through “I Won’t Do This Anymore,” where a wailing harmonica captures the sound of a man finding freedom in his guitar.
Everything about “Straight To It” feels alive and unfiltered. There’s a raucous joy coursing through it all, as if the band can barely contain themselves. “High Roller” bursts out of the speakers, while even slower moments like “Betterland” feel widescreen and anthemic – the kind of song that proves the Gang know how to blend melody with muscle.
“Running Dry” is a near-literal celebration of good times, and “Angeline” shows off a sweet melodic touch beneath the grit. But it’s “Damaged Man” that steals the show – Chuck Berry on speed, grinning through the hurt. The purity of the blues shines on “Back Again,” while “Turning To Stone” adds a soulful depth that feels timeless.
Closer “Things Change” acts as a kind of palate cleanser, easing things down after the storm. But one thing that doesn’t change is the album’s core truth: great music, and great blues, never go out of fashion.
With “Straight To It,” Zac Schulze Gang have delivered a record that’s exactly what its title promises – raw, urgent, and full of fire. They’ve got it started, and on this evidence, they really aren’t going to stop.
Rating 8/10
