Corey Kent: ‘Black Bandana’ – Album Review

Corey Kent releases his newest album, Black Bandana out now, September 6th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.

Having cut his teeth in the Texas music scene, Oklahoma native Corey Kent continues to push the genre forward with his unique mix of arena-ready country rock meets the humble beginnings of red dirt. On his new album, Black Bandana, out now, Kent builds on the momentum put forth by his 2023 debut album.

For the “Wild As Her” hitmaker, his signature black bandana represents what he stands for, as both an artist and a man, making the album title an easy choice.  “It started from riding motorcycles and wanting something over your face so you didn’t swallow a bug,” he shares in a statement. “But then it turned into a staple I wear on stage, and then a symbol of the path through my career, and life. Through all the ups and downs, the one constant thing was this relentless hope – this relentless pursuit of believing that if I don’t give up, I can get where I’m going.”

For the Sony Music Nashville recording artist, the bandana represents hope, offering fans an alternative to surrender. “When the going gets tough and  you feel like waving the white flag, I hope this record inspires you to raise a black bandana instead.”

Kent’s new album features ten new tracks, six of which he co-wrote, alongside the likes of Ryan Hurd, Jacob Davis, Casey Brown, and Michael Tyler. The collection features a wide sonic range, pairing radio-ready country rock with beautifully impassioned ballads.

The LP opens with the roaring “Ain’t Gonna Lie,” an ode to a broken heart and the fact that he can’t quite move on. Punctuated by a female vocalist, Kent’s growling rasp is on full display as it builds to an epic climax, and drowns his pain in various vices. “I ain’t gonna lie, I’m up every night, Talkin’ to God, prayin’ he’ll change your mind,” He proclaims over driving guitars. “I ain’t gonna lie, I wish the truth was, you weren’t over me and I ain’t missin’ you, but I ain’t gonna lie.”

Heartbreak and an inability to move past it is a recurrent theme on Black Bandana, weaving its way through songs like “Break Like That,” “This Heart,” “Nothing But Neon,” and “Damn Good Country Song.” While the quartet of tracks may share common lyrical themes, they are each sonically unique, with “This Heart” and “Break Like That” country rock anthems, while “Nothing But Neon” is a whiskey-soaked heartache ballad.

Meanwhile, “Damn Good Country Song” is a tongue-in-cheek take on an inevitable heartbreak, as he seeks a muse to inspire his saddest songs. With its mid-tempo melody, listeners can focus on the lyrics, which find him admitting that “girls like you make a damn good country song.”

“So go on and leave me in some corner booth // Only thing’ll be left is four chords and the truth // I’ll go home and write it all down // They’ll play it every night in every small town // ‘Cause girls like you don’t stay long // And girls like you make a damn good country song”

“Now or Never” finds Kent trading verses with Lauren Alaina on a duet that channels some of the great country power ballads of the 80’s and 90’s. They exchange melodies over a powerful and relatable message: make the relationship work or move on. “‘Now or Never’ is a song about drawing a line in the sand for yourself,” shares Kent. “It’s about loving somebody but refusing to let them continue to hurt you by taking a stand and asking your partner to make up their mind… ‘You either love me or you don’t.’”   

While Kent shines on uptempo tunes, his slower moments are just as poignant and powerful. This is evidenced on songs like “Black Bandana” and “Never Ready.” The title track is an anthemic cry for the everyman, inviting listeners to stand up, stand out, and stand strong in the face of adversity and despair.

“Hold on tight, don’t let go // Let your heart stay rock n roll // And don’t worry ‘bout when they misunderstand ya // Stand your ground, go for broke // Give ‘em hell, don’t give up hope // Change the game if you don’t like the cards life hands ya // And don’t be afraid to fight back // In a world of waving white flags// Be a black bandana”

Meanwhile, “Never Ready” is a gorgeous ballad about how you can never be prepared for the biggest moments in one’s life. Likewise, “Rust” celebrates the kind of love that can weather any storm, while the album’s closing track, “So Far” is a simple and sparse celebration of the accomplishments that he’s already achieved and what hasn’t happened yet.

“Yeah, ‘cause I’ve been through hell, it’s been a hell of a ride // Been spinning my wheels but now I’m hitting my stride // Got these feet off the ground but still ain’t reached those stars // Who’d have thought a dream could take a boy from Bixby so far”

While “So Far” celebrates Corey Kents achievements to date, it’s clear from his sophomore album, Black Bandana, that there’s much more to come.

Black Bandana Tracklist:

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Corey Kent releases.

For tour dates and more, including an October 16 stop at NYC’s Gramercy Theater, visit Kent’s official website here. 

To keep up with Corey Kent, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Black Bandana is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.