With his latest album, Brian Halloran set out to create a big, arena-filling rock sound, and teamed up with 30 Seconds to Mars’ front of house engineer Ricky Watts to achieve it.

By Graeme Smith

Feature artwork by Amy Keenan Amago

It’s a hard sound to capture on record but with his new album, Disquiet, Halloran’s probably come as close as anyone will ever. As soon as the rousing riffs of opener Straw Man come in, you get a sense of space and bigness. Everything echoes, including Halloran’s characterful vocals. Of course, a big sound needs a big story and Straw Man brings plenty of drama with its.

Disquiet feels like the right kind of evolution for an artist who we last shared at the end of 2024 through his ’90s rock revival EP, Four Orphans. The two records are very different in nature. Four Orphans was four tracks that Halloran couldn’t bear to part with. Disquiet is a meticulously planned out collection of ten.

Emergency Room proves an early highlight thanks to its deployment of loud-quiet which sees things bounce back and forth from soulful verses and bouncing, poetic choruses. Other highlights include the U2-esque Bouncing off the Walls, the cantering and introspective I Feel Like I Should Like Your New Band, and the smouldering and atmospheric Late Night Drive.

Another Room proves a particularly poignant moment, reflecting on the loss of Robin Williams in a textured number that was a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition.

While lyrically Disquiet speaks mostly about personal unease, closing track The Ramparts is about social unrest and ends the album in defiant, triumphant style.

Disquiet is set for release 13 May 2025.