Ashton Irwin’s BLOOD ON THE DRUMS, A Year On
On July 17th, 2024, drummer and multi-talented musician Ashton Irwin released his second solo album, BLOOD ON THE DRUMS.
A day later, he took the stage for his debut solo show, accompanied by a powerful music video for the final single. Now, a year on, we look back on this pivotal project, an album that challenged identity and opened a raw, emotional window into Irwin’s evolution as an artist.
After making his solo debut with Superbloom in 2020, fans of the 5 Seconds of Summer drummer were giddy to learn that new music was coming in 2024. Opening the album, Straight To Your Heart immediately sets the tone with a tingle of guitar, soon swelling into a track steeped in ’80s alt-rock influence. It’s a welcoming plunge into Irwin’s intricate and emotionally charged soundscape.
Blood on the Drums was released in two distinct parts. The Thorns on June 12th, followed by The Roses a month later, on July 17th. Inspired by the lyric in Wild Things, “I know your thorns protect your roses”, this split was intentional, dividing the project into two entirely different emotional experiences. The Thorns delivers bold, defiant rock with a sharp edge, while The Roses softens into acoustic introspection and emotional availability.
Irwin explained that the album was born from a desire to “give strength to [the listener] to recover from depressive bouts…about rekindling your fire and getting back to feeling happier.” That mission pulses through the album’s first half, which champions resilience, self-acceptance, and emotional endurance above all else.
Rebel At Heart encapsulates the album’s defiant spirit with lyrics like, “Can’t keep hidin’ yourself away / ‘Cause it’s just making your soul decay / And you’re not living in your natural way.” This track is a rallying cry to embrace your true self. The instrumentation builds to a cinematic bridge, layered with harmonies and a gritty guitar riff, showcasing Irwin’s vocal and musical range. It’s a pure anthem of personal vindication, about stepping out of the shadows into your most authentically powerful self. A call to action for anyone feeling like they’re not living as who they want to be in this present moment.
The title track, BLOOD ON THE DRUMS, continues that theme of giving everything you’ve got. The song is heavy, urgent, and intense. In an interview with Brandon Toews of Drumeo, the Aussie-born musician revealed that the drum kit used in the accompanying video was almost identical to that used by his stepfather, the same kit he first learned to play on. This personal touch perfectly exemplifies Irwin’s signature as an artist. To put intent behind every element of a project, visually, musically, lyrically and through ways you’ve probably never even considered, creating an immersive experience that draws you into his world with profound honesty.
I See The Angels furthers the theme of identity, wrestling with the idea of self-worth in a world that often tries to define you and take your good-natured spirit, “Got a high price on my soul / Offer me the world, still, I won’t let it go.” The lyrics position the listener as the angel, tied down, yet determined to soar to dizzying heights. The metaphor speaks volumes about the music industry’s constraints and Irwin’s decade-long effort to remain true to himself amid the pressures to succeed without taking morally dubious shortcuts. To hold onto a larger vision without sacrificing your core identity is a quiet act of rebellion. Indestructible closes the first half of the record with force, an anthem of survival that merges emotional vulnerability with urgent rock energy.
While The Thorns is bold and defiant, The Roses offers a softer, more reflective space. On The Thorns, Last Night Of My Life encourages listeners to walk away from places and people where they aren’t valued. Mental Health and finding your inner strength are topics referenced repeatedly throughout the album, but directly through the most thematically intense tracks such as The Canyon. An honest, gut-wrenching narrative on the struggles many young men face in coming to terms with life’s realities, and the toll taken on their mental health, particularly in recognising and trying not to repeat the patterns of their fathers. The Canyon becomes a metaphor for the pits of despair, or in a more biblical phrasing, the ‘Valley of the Damned’. It directly hits on the topic of male suicide and the lack of societal action to address a worsening epidemic of male loneliness.
Speaking on the song in an interview with CLASH, Irwin explained, “The Canyon is the Dark Zone you pass through internally to reach the light and a more enlightened awareness of what to do with personal pain. And every man goes through it. During personal experiences and dark moments throughout my 20s, I always ended up in a more enlightened place after pushing through my personal canyons, and reached a kinder place for me to continue evolving, and more importantly keep living.” Periods of darkness can lead you to immense new levels of personal strength and awareness, but it’s crucial not to lose sight of your reason for wanting to reach the light again.
Mental health, identity, and self-expression are not new topics for Irwin, but BLOOD ON THE DRUMS presents them with unflinching honesty and creative ambition. The album’s name alone is a testament to the kind of artist he is: someone willing to pour his entire soul into his craft. Striving for greatness and improvement every single day is an admirable way to approach making music, especially for someone who’s already experienced such massive success in the industry.
A particularly touching moment follows The Canyon. California Holds Her Breath explores the darker side of fame. At first, it appears to tell the story of someone chasing dreams in the City of Stars. Later, Irwin revealed it was inspired by an individual a friend met during a community session, someone quietly, and very personally, struggling. The track captures the haunting feeling of waiting on bated breath to know someone’s fate, wondering each moment what will become of them before you see them next.
Contending for last year’s song of the summer, Glory Days is pure rose-tinted bliss, reflecting on years filled with adrenaline and youthful euphoria. A tinge of regret comes in the second verse: “In another life / Really wish we stayed in touch / Now we’ve learned to think too much / Blame it all on growin’ up.” It’s a sobering reflection on how adulthood and anxiety often chip away at youthful optimism, leading to lost connections and quiet nostalgia.
A beautifully delicate moment toward the end of the album comes in the acoustically pure Wild Things. It speaks to being willing to go to the ends of the earth for someone you love, literally and emotionally. It’s about choosing to explore the hidden, sometimes painful parts of someone else’s soul with unwavering compassion and understanding.
Irwin’s glorious new era culminated in a one-night-only show at the Gothically charming Belasco Theatre in L.A. Normally the backbone of a pop-rock band, Irwin showed no signs of nerves as he bounded onto the stage, full of enthusiasm for his moment in the spotlight. Clad in a black fringed waistcoat, staple flared trousers, and dark eyeliner, you’d never guess it was his debut as a frontman. He switched effortlessly between gritty, captivating vocals and drum solos on his embellished kit set up at the back of the stage.
Fans poured in from across the country, and even farther afield, for the show. Printed Polaroids were shared, friendship bracelets exchanged, AI-embossed guitar picks handed out to lucky fans, and ‘bloodied’ drumsticks tossed into the crowd by an ever-grateful Irwin. His infectious spirit and pure elation lit up the venue, and his repeated expressions of gratitude helped create a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
After over a decade as the rhythmic backbone of 5 Seconds of Summer, Irwin has carved out a solo path that is distinctly his own. Where Superbloom was alternative and exploratory, Blood on the Drums is raw, emotional, and grounded in hard-won strength, earned through years of personal growth and resistance against an industry known for its many challenges.
Expertly crafted, Blood on the Drums is an introspective journey through Irwin’s meticulous mind. A completely different soundscape and energy from the beloved Superbloom, this album is an unexpected injection of reality. A year later, it still resonates just as strongly, reminding listeners that through darkness, grit, and honesty, you can find your way back to the light. And the version of you that emerges will be stronger and more authentically you than ever before.
