Blacklist Union are back and burning brighter than ever with their electrifying new single, “Up In Smoke”—a gritty, swagger-filled anthem that oozes with raw energy and hard-won wisdom. As the second release from their upcoming sixth studio album Slay the Dragon, due this September, the track makes one thing clear: Tony West and company are not here to play it safe—they’re here to set fire to the past and rise from its ashes.
Produced by Christopher Johnson (whose work spans from Evanescence to Phoebe Bridgers), “Up In Smoke” is a masterclass in hard rock revivalism, blending the filth and flair of Guns N’ Roses, the emotional grit of Stone Temple Pilots, and the hypnotic edge of Malfunkshun and The Cult. From the opening riff to the final howl, the track feels like a tightrope walk between chaos and catharsis—and Blacklist Union never lose their footing.
West’s vocal delivery is equal parts venom and vulnerability, anchored by a lyric that explores a deeply personal yet universally relatable struggle: staying grounded in the present. “It’s about living in the moment,” West explains. “Not hanging onto your past and your trauma. Staying in the moment. I tell my kids that it’s the present, because if you can stay in the moment, it’s a gift.”
That lived experience pulses through every note. West, who grew up immersed in the New York hardcore scene before crashing into L.A. with $20 and a dream, channels decades of heartbreak, healing, and survival into this track. Having co-written with the late Todd Youth and journeyed through ayahuasca-fueled spiritual awakenings in the Amazon, West emerges not just as a frontman but as a survivor turned sonic preacher, laying down truth over distortion and defiance.
Mixed by Claudio Cueni and tracked at East West Studios and The Village Studios, “Up In Smoke” is muscular and polished without losing its street-born soul. The production hits hard but leaves room for the nuances of West’s vocal grit and the track’s explosive dynamics.
Following on the heels of their gritty first single “Mississippi Moonhound”, this release turns the intensity up a notch—and teases even more cathartic fire to come with Slay the Dragon.
With a headline slot at CrüeFest Hollywood at Whisky A Go-Go on July 12th and a rep for delivering “exhilarating… first-rate rock shows”, Blacklist Union continue to prove that rock’s best stories are the ones lived hard, written loud, and delivered with soul.
Presave ‘Up In Smoke’
