Tom Moriarty Unveils Long-Awaited Fifth Album ‘Chapters’
- Dave Bedford
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
Critically acclaimed British singer-songwriter and guitarist Tom Moriarty has finally released his highly anticipated fifth studio album, Chapters. Hailed as “a performer of rare talent” by the Press Association and praised by the legendary Q Magazine for his “thoughtful roots rock,” Moriarty arrives with a record that marks both a major sonic evolution and a massive personal victory.
Known for a soulful vocal delivery described as sitting "somewhere between the rage of Eddie Vedder and the soul of Ray LaMontagne," Moriarty has long held a reputation as one of the finest songwriters of his generation. Following his celebrated debut Fire In The Doll’s House and its equally praised follow-up The Road—which earned the explicit admiration of rock legends like David Crosby—Moriarty continues to stretch his creative boundaries on Chapters, pairing his signature acoustic folk-rock with a newly unleashed, blistering electric edge.
Drawing heavily on the technical skills he honed years ago at the Musician’s Institute (MI) in Los Angeles, the album explores sweeping elements of gritty US Southern rock while safely retaining the introspective storytelling that has long defined his career.
Opening track “Enemy Inside” perfectly exemplifies this new musical chapter. A driving, cinematic rock anthem, it channels years of hardship and raw emotion through soaring guitar lines and Moriarty’s signature whiskey-soaked vocals, creating a piece that feels both entirely timeless and deeply urgent.
Meanwhile, the autobiographical track “On The Road Again” captures the joy of a nomadic life lived across the UK, Germany, Los Angeles, France, and Italy, celebrating the beauty of absolute creative freedom, adventure, and personal growth.
Chapters thrives on these sharp dynamic contrasts. The record masterfully balances the rock intensity of heavier tracks like “Hard Times” and “Leaving It All Behind” with tender, devastatingly quiet acoustic moments such as “She’s Like The River” and “One Day.”
On “You Are My Island,” Moriarty’s electric guitar work shifts seamlessly from sensitive, B.B. King-inspired blues solos to towering, climactic lines that reflect the foundational influence of guitar deities like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Lindsey Buckingham, and Prince. Having never played electric guitar on any of his previous studio offerings, Chapters serves as a massive revelation for his fanbase, documenting the exact moment Moriarty truly steps into the role of a lead guitarist.
“It was time to add electric guitar into the mix,” Moriarty explains. “I felt it was time to use the skills I’d learned at MI in LA to express myself and emotion in my music. Times had changed, and in some of the songs, I wanted to express more anger and aggression as a reflection of how the world had changed.”
The raw emotion running through the album is directly tied to a period of intense personal trauma. Following a career-threatening accident and a separate, vicious dog attack that severely injured his left hand, Moriarty initially began writing these tracks as a visceral way to process immense physical hardship, perseverance, and ultimate survival.
Years in the making, the album was recorded alongside prized producer Tristan Longworth (Jon Allen) and backed by a world-class team of elite session musicians:
The Rhythm Section: Evan Jenkins (Eric Clapton, Van Morrison) on drums and Thibault Guillen on bass.
The Atmosphere: Georgie Leach (Seasick Steve) on violin and Rich Milner (James Morrison) on the Hammond organ.
The Harmony: Powerful, soul-stirring backing vocals provided by Louise and Melanie Marshall (Jools Holland, Ray LaMontagne).
Moriarty himself contributes piano parts alongside his core guitar and vocal duties, constructing an incredibly rich, timeless sonic palette. Originally slated for a global release in 2020, the project was indefinitely shelved due to the global pandemic. Its arrival makes it a long-overdue celebration of human endurance, masterful storytelling, and elite musical craftsmanship. Chapters has all the foundational markings of a classic album for the ages.
You can catch Tom Moriarty for his album launch gig on Saturday, 27th June, at Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre.
