With his latest single “In the Sun,” Irish singer-songwriter Garrett Anthony Rice throws gasoline on the fire of anticipation surrounding his upcoming double album Equinox. Gritty, propulsive, and tightly wound, the track is a no-frills hard rock burst that showcases Rice’s ability to move seamlessly between vulnerability and voltage, following the reflective tones of previous singles with something altogether more combustible.
Built on a solid foundation of groove-heavy guitar riffs and thunderous drums, “In the Sun” feels like movement incarnate. The track rides a low-end swagger reminiscent of Queens of the Stone Age, but Rice’s delivery remains fiercely his own—confident but unpretentious, intricate without feeling overworked. There’s a cinematic sense of momentum, as if the track were tailor-made for a desert highway scene, heat miraging off the tarmac, volume cranked to eleven.
While many rock tracks in this vein lean heavily on noise, “In the Sun” thrives on precision. Every note, beat, and lyrical line feels deliberate, yet organic. It’s clear Rice isn’t chasing nostalgia, he’s building something forward-facing, rooted in classic rock’s physicality but unafraid of modern polish and dynamic restraint.
What’s most exciting about “In the Sun” is how it continues to expand Rice’s musical identity, not by abandoning past sounds, but by doubling down on his ability to occupy multiple creative spaces—rocker, poet, craftsman. His shift from the experimental (i) CONSULT moniker to his full name now feels like a coming-into-his-own moment. And with Equinox promising 18 tracks selected from 30 demos, this is clearly a work of intentional vision, not just ambition.
Whether blaring from car speakers or filling the rafters of a venue, “In the Sun” is a statement piece, a track that confirms Rice isn’t just dabbling in genres, he’s commanding them.
