Atlanta-based indie rockers Last Relapse bring emotionally charged guitar work and soaring melodic hooks to “Throw Away the Key,” a long-awaited release nearly two decades in the making. Originally written by frontman David Holding at age sixteen in 2006, the track finally reaches listeners following the band’s 2025 reunion after a thirteen-year hiatus. The result was well worth waiting for.

The track unfolds enjoyably, from initial guitar-led emotion to soaring vocal introspection. Melodic guitar twanging is quickly bolstered by a steady rhythm section. “Don’t know why, I just stare at the window,” the vocals emerge with soaring resonance, a bit reminiscent of early My Morning Jacket in the commanding tonal disposition. The vocals maintain a sturdy emotionality throughout, from the “won’t even look at me” laments within spacious guitars, to an ensuing pulsating of various guitar layers.

The three-minute turn is especially climactic, moving from sporadic guitar placements to a consistent re-emergence of jangling power and expressive vocal soaring. The backing guitar tones in the final thirty seconds are particularly invigorating, exuding a free-flowing charisma that melds wonderfully with the pre-existing, familiarly guitar progressions. “Throw Away the Key” is a stellar rocker from Last Relapse, again impressing after catching our ears with their self-titled EP last year.

—

This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

We discovered this release via MusoSoup.

The post Last Relapse – “Throw Away the Key” appeared first on Obscure Sound: Indie Music Blog.