Marshall Potts is Brewing a Storm in Rock

Canadian artist Marshall Potts released his sophomore album The Storm in January of 2025, starting the year off on a hopeful and change-driven front. The album consists of ten rock and country rock tracks, taking the listener on a journey through Potts’ desires for change. It feels like a perfect time to be digging into an upbeat and hopeful rock album, which is exactly what The Storm is bringing. The first song “Free and Easy” is earnest and moving, emphasizing the freeing feeling of growing from your past and living in the moment through powerful vocals and commanding guitar lines.

The album’s titular track, “The Storm,” continues the passionate energy as heard in “Free and Easy.” It is backed with a classic country rock banjo riff, which continues throughout the softer and more powerful moments in the song, really cementing the listener in the Americana feel of Potts' music. The third song, “Change,” truly embodies the optimistic thesis of the entire album. It starts off with a joyous guitar line and slowly builds with drums and Potts’ voice until the exciting culmination of the chorus, calling for a better world. Aptly titled “Change” bids the listener to join in Potts’ passionate plea to change the world for the better. It’s a fun and inspirational listening experience emboldened by its optimistic outlook.

“Let It All Go” continues the idea established in “Free and Easy,” promoting the happiness that can be gained from growing and moving on from your past. There’s a cheerfulness that Potts is able to demonstrate through difficult topics, such as grappling with and healing from one's past. The messages are universal, they can admirably reach any one person regardless of background. Similarly, “Heaven or Home” hearkens  to the idea of finding peace with home, that one’s heaven could also be home through an invigorating drum beat.

A shift in tone comes with the track “Hearts in The Sky,” a moving rock ballad that slows down the previous electrifying energy. “I Like The Fall” comes in a little bit more upbeat than “Hearts in The Sky,” but continues on the softer side until the exciting chorus that once again calls the listener in, spreading positivity with the idea of strength. Throughout the song Potts’ grapples with the concept of forgetting oneself, but once again comes to the conclusion that change for the better can be made and that strength can be found within oneself. The persistent lyrics “we can be stronger” which are repeated throughout the track, makes one think of the importance of community and togetherness: the idea that we are stronger than one.

Despite the uplifting atmosphere established by fast hitting drums and invigorating horns, the song “Rope” deals with some hard hitting topics. Potts is pleading for assistance, asking for support through the difficult times. The exciting beat lets the listener know that even though this song discusses the hardships with survival, a loved one is coming to help. Through “Rope,” Potts depicts that there is always light to be found within the dark.

The idea of companionship is continued into “Never Gets Old,” in which Potts happily sings of the never ending bliss found in a loving relationship. In the final track, “Thank You,” we are slowed down once again for a smooth song of gratitude. The loved one found in songs such as “Rope” and “Never Gets Old” seems to be receiving Potts' thanks, in a powerful rock ballad that emotionally demonstrates the force of gratitude.

As a whole, The Storm is an album that any rock and country rock listener would be able to enjoy. It’s perfect for blasting in the car with the windows down, warm summer air cascading with the powerful vocals and rocking instrumentals. The Storm is able to be a fun and happy album while still establishing important and big ideas that are both topical and timeless. Listeners should be looking out for Marshall Potts and the passionate music he’s creating.

Written by Gracey Downer