Titus Andronicus – The Will To Live

Somewhere along the way, the young kids of New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus became rock veterans. They’ve grown like frontman Patrick Stickles’ signature beard, putting out solid record after solid record, in a time not so friendly to rock n’ roll. They’ve got another notch on their belt with The Will To Live.

Admittedly not having the same high level of punk fury of their last release, 2019’s An Obelisk (QRO review), Will trades that for a wider appeal rock call-out in songs like the kiss-off “(I’m) Screwed”, the wry “Baby Crazy” (sax included, because the Jersey rock sax is back, baby!), and the great take on god & the devil, “An Anomaly”. This is Titus Andronicus rocking & rollicking, even starting with an opening instrumental rock jam, “My Mother Is Going To Kill Me”.

So, so many rock acts of the twenty-first century have come & gone, flashed in the pan but could never make the long haul. But Titus Andronicus is still here, and they still rock.