{"product_id":"the-zac-schulze-gang_straight-to-it_2025_soc","title":"STRAIGHT TO IT","description":"The Zac Schulze Gang and Ruf Records are pleased to announce the upcoming release of *Straight to It* on September 26, 2025, via Ruf Records. *Straight To It* is an apt title for The Zac Schulze Gang’s debut studio album: the trio don’t mess about, preferring to play blues-tinged rock‘n’roll that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Their leader, guitarist Zac Schulze, is undoubtedly a world-class shredder, playing with precision, speed, and passion, but the trio doesn't focus on his solos. The Zac Schulze Gang is an undeniable gang, a band united by a sharp sensibility that adds an electric charge to their rock’n’roll. Zac Schulze rides the rhythm section of his drummer brother Ben and bassist Ant Greenwell, all three combining to create a massive roar, without losing sight of their songs. The blend of melody and power gives *Straight To It* a visceral energy. Moving away from the blues that inspired the trio in their early days, The Zac Schulze Gang opens the album with \"The Rocker,\" whose breathless choruses sound almost like a rallying cry, and maintains that energy right through to the surging power of \"High Roller.\" That tough edge is complemented by the bright power-pop of \"Angeline\" and \"Betterland,\" an alternative rock anthem that soars skyward. Despite these softer touches, The Zac Schulze Gang maintains a raw and unruly attitude, evoking the relentless menace of Dr. Feelgood and the spirited humanity of Rory Gallagher. On \"High Roller,\" Zac draws inspiration from the relentless style of Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson, but it was Gallagher who inspired him to form his gang. Early in the coronavirus pandemic, he discovered a YouTube video of the Irish blues legend playing \"Bullfrog Blues.\" Stunned, he showed the video to Ben, who was equally struck by the raw passion captured in the performance. At that time, the brothers were already part of the music scene in their hometown of Gillingham, Medway, Kent, in the south of England, playing various styles in their formations. After cutting their teeth on the DIY punk circuit that crisscrossed Europe and the UK, Ben, Ant, and Zac became passionate about the idea of embodying this modern energy within the context of the blues. After two years of gigs and hard work, the trio broke through, fittingly, at Rory Gallagher’s Tribute Festival in 2022, with a set that propelled them into the heart of the British blues scene. The Zac Schulze Gang quickly built a reputation as road warriors. By the middle of the decade, they were playing over 250 shows a year, touring across Europe and the UK, sometimes in clubs, sometimes landing prestigious gigs like opening for Eddie 9V, Samantha Fish, or an appearance at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival in Los Angeles in 2023. All this hard work, combined with the EP *Made of Three* (2023) and the album *Live and Loud* (2024), led the band to win the Best Emerging Blues Artist award at the UK Blues Awards 2024. The following year, the UK Blues Awards named the band Young Artist of the Year. Produced by long-time collaborator Ian Sadler, *Straight to It* sees The Zac Schulze Gang ready to break through on the British blues scene. They remain committed to amplifying tradition—as evidenced by \"I Won’t Do This Anymore,\" an over-the-top house rock featuring Nigel Feist’s greasy harmonica—but this record proves that the trio is not really a nostalgic revivalist: it’s a dynamic and aggressive band, rooted in the present moment, and creating some of the most exciting rock’n’roll around.","brand":"THE ZAC SCHULZE GANG","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55657492676952,"sku":null,"price":23851156.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0898\/4943\/0360\/files\/0710347211617.jpg?v=1760467541","url":"https:\/\/vinyles.com\/en-us\/products\/the-zac-schulze-gang_straight-to-it_2025_soc","provider":"Vinyles.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}