A Thousand Horses Deepens “The Outside” with Deluxe Edition and Unreleased Gem
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
A Thousand Horses, the Nashville-based band known for their potent blend of Southern rock and country soul, have enriched their latest album, “The Outside,” with a newly released deluxe edition. This expanded offering not only includes bonus live and acoustic renditions of existing tracks but also unveils a previously unheard single, “’Til My Heart Don’t Beat,” providing a deeper dive into the band’s recent sonic and emotional landscape.
Originally hitting shelves last year, “The Outside” marked a significant juncture for A Thousand Horses. Emerging after a period of considerable personal evolution for the band members, the album resonated with a sense of renewal and a willingness to explore new sonic territories. The deluxe edition serves to amplify these themes, offering fans a more intimate connection to the music and hinting at what lies ahead.
Lead singer Michael Hobby’s enthusiasm for the expanded release is palpable. “We are thrilled to release the deluxe version of our album, ‘The Outside,’ and share a new song, ‘Til My Heart Don’t Beat’,” he states. He aptly describes the new track as “a bridge to the next chapter and what’s to come,” suggesting a continued evolution in the band’s sound and songwriting. Adding to the excitement for their international fanbase, Hobby expresses his anticipation for their upcoming return to the UK this summer, a sentiment surely shared by their loyal listeners across the pond.
The journey through “The Outside” begins with the uplifting “Highway Sound,” a track that immediately establishes the album’s overarching tone of seeking light after darkness. Hobby reveals that the song took shape organically during a weekend retreat to a Texas farmhouse, born from an impromptu jam session on the porch in the summer of 2021. He describes the track as embodying “the freedom of cutting ties with the negativity of the past and putting your energy into celebrating a new beginning,” a sentiment that clearly informs much of the album’s emotional core.
Across its original twelve tracks, “The Outside” fearlessly delves into a spectrum of human emotions. From the exhilarating embrace of individuality in the powerfully cathartic rock anthem “The Outside,” to the quiet solace of finding inner peace in the beautifully understated “No News,” and the profound ache of disconnection explored in “Strangers,” co-written with the acclaimed Chris Stapleton, the album showcases a remarkable emotional depth.
Musically, A Thousand Horses mirror this complexity with an equally intricate and often unpredictable sonic palette. Guitarist Bill Satcher highlights the band’s desire to push creative boundaries in the studio, crediting Grammy-winning producer Jon Randall for guiding them through this exploration. Satcher explains their creative ethos: “‘If it seems obvious, let’s do the exact opposite.'” This adventurous spirit is evident in tracks like the unbridled instrumental “Southeastern Stomp,” which emerged from a spontaneous late-night burst of creativity, and the slow-burning “Roll On,” which culminates in a sublimely explosive bridge.
Even in their exploration of darker themes, as in the darkly hypnotic “Over The Counter” with its fantastically gritty outlaw-country grooves, A Thousand Horses demonstrate their collaborative synergy. Bassist Graham DeLoach recounts how “Over The Counter” evolved without any pre-conceived notions, becoming “one of the most creative moments in the whole process of making the record, where we just got together and made everything up on the fly.”
Produced by the esteemed Jon Randall, “The Outside” further solidifies A Thousand Horses’ reputation for powerful musicianship and soulful urgency, qualities that have made them a formidable live act. This prowess was first unveiled on their Dave Cobb-produced 2015 debut LP, “Southernality,” which featured the platinum-certified hit single “Smoke.”
A Thousand Horses, a two-time ACM Award nominee with over 320 million streams and a history of sold-out shows, are renowned for their electrifying live performances. They have shared stages with iconic artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Darius Rucker, Jason Aldean, and Gregg Allman, further cementing their status as a compelling force in the contemporary country rock scene.
Following a successful 52-show tour last year, the band is set to return to the UK this summer for a series of highly anticipated dates in Glasgow, Manchester, and London, promising their UK fans the same high-energy and captivating performances that have earned them widespread acclaim. The deluxe edition of “The Outside” serves as a timely reminder of their musical prowess and offers both longtime fans and new listeners a richer and more complete experience of their latest artistic chapter.
2025 UK Summer Dates
30th July – Saint Lukes, Glasgow
31st July – Manchester Academy, Manchester
1st August – Islington Assembly Hall, London
Photo credit: Zack Knudsen