Warren Zeiders: ‘Relapse, Lies & Betrayal’ – Album Review

Warren Zeiders’ new project, Relapse, Lies, & Betrayal is out now, March 14th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

Known for his emotive rasp and sturdy growl, rising country star Warren Zeiders is back with his most powerful and impactful project to date, Relapse, Lies, & Betrayal. Over the course of the LP’s 21 tracks, Zeiders deals with heartbreak, introspection, healing, and growth, as both a person and an artist.

For the ambitious project, the “Pretty Little Poison” singer enlisted hitmakers Ross Copperman and Mike Elizondo to help him produce the album. The Warner Records star also co-wrote 17 of the album’s songs, alongside the likes of Chris Stapleton, Erik Dylan, Eric Paslay, Ali Tamposi, Ryan Beaver, and more.

Throughout the album’s winding tracks, Zeiders mixes pure country with hints of blues, alternative, and rock, his emotive voice truly making each track unique. The project opens with “Relapse,” a driving and uptempo ode to falling back into an unhealthy relationship with an ex. While they both know it’s bad, they do it anyway, relapsing into each other. It’s a theme that traverses many of the album’s songs, reminding listeners that love is sometimes messy and intoxicating.

“Crying Whiskey” finds Zeiders on the receiving end of a relentless drunk dialer, while “Withdrawal” is a whiskey-drenched breakup song, the singer-songwriter grappling with the physical pain of breaking up. Likewise, “Intoxicated” and “Addictions” both find Zeiders likening love to an illicit substance as he deals with the ache of longing.

“Lies” is a raspy, rhythmic, and drum-heavy confrontation that finds him dealing with deception, while “Bad” is an almost frenetic look at a woman who’s just all kinds of wrong. On the latter, the almost ska-tinted chorus provides a clever juxtaposition of music and lyrics, pairing sing-songy melodies with downtrodden lyrics in the best way.

“Take It to the Grave” is a truly electric moment with roaring guitars tearing through the dark and rock-tinted track as he examines the destruction left in his own wake. “All the hell I’ve raised,” He growls forcefully, “I’ma take it to the grave.”

“Betrayal” draws listeners in immediately and pulls them straight to the Pennsylvania native’s side, as he muses, “This is a story about betrayal…Shame on me if ya fool me twice.” Likewise, “You For a Reason” and “Can a Heart Take” are both stunningly powerful heartbreak ballads that allow him to flex his incredible vocal prowess.

“Love in Letting Go” is a clear standout, pairing Zeiders with the angelic voice of Lanie Gardner. The ballad allows Zeiders to show his softer side, perfectly complimenting the lush tone of Gardner’s voice, creating an especially poignant and beautiful harmonic moment. While many duets deal with love found, this one struggles with the confusing feelings that come from love lost.

“There’s love in letting go // Ain’t no shame in coming close // You know it wasn’t all worth nothing // If we didn’t end up being something // You’ll never be someone I wish I didn’t know // There’s love in letting go”

Songs like “Fight Like Hell,” “Death of a Cowboy,” “Without You,” and “Everything Comes to Go Away” continue to find him failing to surrender in the battle for love. On the uber-catchy”Without You,” he promises unending love, even in the face of a breakup.

“I’ll love you today, I’ll love you tomorrow, wherever you go // My love’s gonna follow, never held a ghost // But I’ll figure out how to, if you left me a world, without you, without you // I’ll never love again, I’ll never love again”

“Every Single Version of You” is a welcome change of pace, a stunning and sparse ballad that’s perfect for a wedding. It’s a story of an enduring love that will grow and change as the lovers do, Zeiders proclaiming, “I can’t wait to keep loving every single version of you.”

The album ends with the one two punch of the dark and moody “Devil I Know,” followed by the Stapleton-penned “Love on the Line.” While the former finds him musing that “The devil I know Is a hell of a lot better than the devil I don’t,” “Love on the Line” is an acoustic guitar-driven power ballad that builds to an epic climax.

The album’s final two tracks are perfectly representative of the collection as a whole, dealing with a broken heart and what’s yet to come. For Warren Zeiders, Relapse, Lies, & Betrayal is truly an emotional journey for both performer and listener alike.

Country Swag Picks:

1. Without You
2. Take it to the Grave
3. Can a Heart Take
4. Intoxicated
5. Love in Letting Go with Lanie Gardner
6. Bad