Highroad No. 28 – With (No) Clarity (2026)
What began almost 30 years ago in 1998, Australian alternative rock group Highroad No. 28 established themselves as a band that combined introspective songwriting with hard-hitting melodies. From their 1999 album, Obscure Madness, to 2008’s Stumbling to Divinity, Highroad No. 28 kept winning hearts and astounding audiences with confidence, infectiousness, and rock and roll finesse… then things, well, stopped. For whatever reason, the lads of Highroad No. 28 stepped away from the stage lights for an extended time – 17 years, give or take – and, beyond a loyal cult following, seemed to fade. Now, they’re back with enthusiasm, ready to take on the world with hard rock musicality, camaraderie, and just plain “ooomph”.
Following their “come-back” 2025 album, The Will To Endure, ‘With (No) Clarity’ is not merely a new song for a re-emerging band; it is a message of evolution and innovation. Recorded at Melbourne’s Sing Sing Recording Studios with James Taplin, ‘With (No) Clarity’ leans strongly toward an alternative rock sound, but with eclectic tinges of dark shoegaze clutching at the melody.
For me, listening to ‘With (No) Clarity’ is like being led through a dark, eerie sonic forest, waist-deep in a black, grungy pool of sonic mud. It’s not exactly a place you want to remain, but the intrigue of this enigmatic rock music drives you forward to a distant light. The pounding drums beat in the background with a bold bass stepping along – kind of like twirls of colourful lights in the depths of the sonic muck. Heavy and hard, but also bright and soothing. The guitar swerves and slices like imps peeking from behind the trees; mischievous and curious while still intriguing and enchanting.
Now, given the sonic setting, you might think of ‘With (No) Clarity’ as distorted, gloomy and pulling down with melancholy. The thing is, Highroad No. 28 brings you to the sonic marsh and leads you through it with empowering, confident and inspiring intent. Remaining true to their emotional honesty, the song “captures the tension between confusion and conviction… balances vulnerability and intensity… yet hope persists.”
So, what is my overall opinion of Highroad No. 28? I’m intrigued and will definitely look into their back catalogue while waiting for more from the Australian rockers.
Find out more about Highroad No. 28 on their Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, SoundCloud and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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