Mattock – Lil’ Busted Fox (2026)
With a passion for “authentic songwriting, adventurous arrangements, and a deep love for the roots of rock and roll”, veteran musicians Casey Brandt and Jason Ryan Fletcher came together to form Mattock. Binding elements of classic rock, indie, Americana, and even some punk tinges, the US-based band technically formed in 2022 by the long-time collaborators, but released their well-received debut album, Songs About Birds, in 2024. From hypnotic grooves to folk-rock flourishes, Songs About Birds is both vintage and contemporary, comfortable and eclectic, soothing and abrupt. Two years after the debut album, Mattock released the single, ‘Lil’ Busted Fox’. Join us as we dive into the song.
Released as a single earlier in 2026, ‘Lil’ Busted Fox’ is also one of the tracks off Mattock’s latest album, Daughters. Joined by John Ranta (bass) and Jason Doyle Gambrell (keyboard), Fletcher (drums) and Brandt (guitar) wander across the realms of rock, from classic rock to shoves of alternative rock and grungy indie-rock. With a strong 1970s flavour, the bold bass keeps the pace, while a soaring guitar weaves, dips and slides in the melody. Crashing drums carpet the foundation, and the shimmering keyboard adds a lighter, smile-filled lilt. As I mentioned, Mattock is a band that offers vintage and contemporary music, and in ‘Lil’ Busted Fox’, the vibes seem to merge, making it refreshing to both modern-day and old-school audiences.
Along with his guitar playing prowess, Casey Brandt sprinkles his producer’s glitter across ‘Lil’ Busted Fox’. Cohesive and sophisticated, the single brims with professionalism, maturity and authenticity. Yet, while there is a clear polish to the track, a rugged thread winds about the music. The vocals are simultaneously gritty and robust, oozing warmth and solace with a strange wash of vulnerability. An intriguing delivery because the song’s theme delves into the timeless issues of survival and endurance in the face of hardship – enter melodic robustness within fragility.
Honest, thought-provoking and vivid in its hard-hitting sound, ‘Lil’ Busted Fox’ is a song I highly recommend. Now, I’m going to head off and listen to Daughters, because if ‘Lil’ Busted Fox’ is anything to go by, the nine-track album should be interesting.
Find out more about Mattock on their official website, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
