Rhi McPhelimJust over one year to the day, September 26th 2025, The Zac Schulze Gang released their debut album Straight To It via Ruf Records.
Featuring eleven tracks spanning rock ‘n’ roll, blues and a light touch of pop-punk, it was a fiery introduction.
Since its release, the band has gone from strength to strength. A second “Young Artist of the Year” win at the UK Blues Awards, a support slot for Samantha Fish across the UK and European leg of her Paper Doll tour, and a busy schedule of their own headline shows and festival slots across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe.
The trio are currently in the middle of a 40-day U.S. tour – a mix of debut headline shows and more opening duties for Samantha Fish.
Band Origins
Formed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Zac Schulze Gang call Gillingham in Medway, Kent, home.
The band is led by guitarist and lead vocalist Zac Schulze and backed by drummer and big brother Ben Schulze and bassist and vocalist Anthony “Ant” Greenwell. Before consolidating as a three-piece, each moved through bands in Gillingham’s local scene and developed on the UK and European DIY-punk circuit.
Ben Schulze, who joined his first punk band at age fourteen/fifteen, brings the band’s punk influences to the fore. Their blues-rock direction then crystallized after Zac found concert footage of Rory Gallagher performing “Bullfrog Blues”. Bonding over the intensity of raw blues and the energy of punk, the band found their sound quickly.
Rory Gallagher has remained one of Zac’s core influences. So much so, that his appreciation for the legend brought the band to Gallagher’s birthplace of Ballyshannon, Co.Donegal for the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival.
Debuting at the festival in 2022 as young Rory fans hungry for the stage, they have since become somewhat adopted by the town. They have humbly returned every year since their initial appearance, working their way up to headlining the big top tent.
“Straight To It”
Upon release, I recall reading a review that dismissed the LP as a “blues album” and the overall rating was seemingly based on that assessment. However, the band – from my awareness – have never branded themselves solely as a “blues band”.
The style of the album reflects an array of influences not only in sound, but in style and technique. Zac cites Rory Gallagher, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gary Moore, Greg Koch, and Steve Lukather as key influences on his playing style. But the band’s sound draws on everything from Dr Feelgood, AC/DC and Thin Lizzy to Turnstile, Royal Blood, and Queens of the Stone Age. The album is a fitting reflection of a melting pot of influences that is still evolving.
01 “The Rocker”
The album opens with the aptly named “The Rocker”, which was the second single to be released. A punchy welcome, the song sees Schulze and Greenwell share vocal duties, instantly showcasing their versatility as they switch between lead vocals and harmonies.
Both members lean into a straight-tone delivery (i.e no vibrato), however each voice can be nicely distinguished from the other. Schuze’s voice has a gritter quality, with a marginally lower timbre, and he drives most of the album’s high-octane “rock ‘n’ roll” tracks. Greenwell’s voice is somewhat more polished and stands out in the album’s pop-punk leaning and softer moments.
This dynamic is also reflected onstage. Schulze is a whirlwind of tactile string-bending, expressive vibrato and “guitar-faces”. He moves across the stage, gets close to his bandmates and concludes songs with a simultaneous high-jump-and-chord combo. Greenwell is typically more solid in his place, delivering the odd burst of bass solos that spotlight his intricacy and speed. Ben Schulze is the quiet beating heart of the band, delivering equally thunderous and tasteful fills and finales.
02 “I Won’t Do This Anymore”
The first single released from the album, “I Won’t Do This Anymore”, comes in at track two. With a shuffle beat, harmonica from Nigel Feist and a swirling triplet guitar riff, it’s one of the album’s best “blues-rock” moments. Early-era The Strypes come to mind as an Irish equivalent in terms of style. Zac Schulze’s vocals take centre stage for the verses, giving listeners a good insight into his darker tone compared to Greenwell, who tackles chorus harmonies.
It’s arguably the album’s strongest single, with a catchy chorus, relatable story and a Thin Lizzy-esque flourish at the end to seal the deal.
03 “High Roller”
Third single “High Roller” is also nicely placed as track three. One of the album’s most popular songs, the energy is sustained from its predecessor. There is no shortage of trilling harmonica, open hi-hat and crash symbols atop a country-blues twinged riff. On a separate note, the band are building a nice niche with their fun DIY visuals, and this single also arrived with a music video, directed by Liam Bagnall (BAG OF WORMS PRODUCTIONS).
04 “Betterland”
“Betterland” brings a change of style and pace. It’s one of the album’s “pop-punk” leaning moments as mentioned previously, and it personally stands as one of my favourite songs on the album. Though based on its general streaming figures, I appear to be in the minority there. From my three or four times seeing the band live, I also don’t recall it featuring on their festival setlists either.
Greenwell features on lead vocals – there’s a nostalgia to his voice that heightens the 2000s pop-punk style I get from the track, especially during the chorus. There’s a sense of angst in the lyrics, but a universality as he and the Schulzes’ sing “Can you take me to a better land?I have fallen by the wayside and I need your helping hand”.
05 “Running Dry”
At two-minutes long, “Running Dry” is a quick bite at the LP’s halfway mark, and a clear fan-favourite in terms of streaming. It is up-tempo (recorded live without a click track to capture a raw feel), sharp and with little enigma, reminiscent of Dr.Feelgood in its pub-rock character.
06 “Angeline”
“Angeline” could be considered the album’s first “breather”. Greenwell takes over as lead vocalist during the verses once again, and his vocals are warmly suited to this softer moment. An acoustic guitar and steel-pedal make their first appearance, contrasting the sprint that was “Running Dry”. The song is well-placed in the running order as we head into the final quarter of the album.
07 “Damaged Man”
The Zac Schulze Gang does not keep the energy nor dynamics dialled down for long. “Damaged Man” immediately returns to a more frenzied, blues-rock style. It’s another short track at two minutes and forty four seconds, built on a call-and-response chorus that nods to traditional blues influences.
08 “Back Again”
Staying on the road of traditional blues influences, “Back Again” delivers a Spencer Davis Group-feel (with extra grit). At the song’s half-way mark, there is a flavoursome instrumental passage that sees Ben Schulze’s hi-hat technique shine. It’s a short but important moment, teasing a little more of what he can do outside of typical blues-rock parameters.
09 “Turning to Stone”
“Turning To Stone” is another personal favourite, though yet again, one of the slightly lesser-loved tracks overall. Introducing some electronic keyboard into the mix, the Spencer Davis group influence rings a little louder, with no complaints.
Though the song is not brimming with fast licks, solos and rebelliousness, it somehow feels like the band in their truest form. It’s a relaxed, fun sidestep from their “norm” and offers some flair in a non guns-blazing way.
10 “Keep it Up”
The penultimate track does what it says on the tin. After a busy, but hopefully rewarding year in the run up to the album release, Schulze urges the trio to “keep it up”. Though, like for many high-achieving musicians, there’s a looming air of fear around what might happen if they don’t.
Positively, looking back on this album one year on, the band are in a fantastic place.
11 “Things Change”
Upon first listen, “Things Change” was a surprising conclusion to the LP. Anticipating a high-energy, wild finish, the band closes the show with this light, swaying number. Greenwell shines on lead vocals, with I believe Zac Schulze giving us a taste of his higher vocal range on harmonies.
Conclusion
Straight to It is a well-rounded debut album brimming with promise.
Behind their powerful sound and Zac Schulze’s own virtuosic guitar playing is not just natural talent, but years of hard work. The band took a punt on leaving their jobs to pursue the band full-time, and the album is a proud reflection of their determination.
Having seen the band live, what doesn’t quite translate to the album, is the extent of Greenwell and Ben Schulze’s talent. On-stage, they produce some “show-stopper” moments of glory – thirty seconds or more of intricacy, speed, and pure passion – that doesn’t seep through to its fullest extent.
Alas, one album, a debut no less, cannot capture a band’s whole story in eleven tracks. I eagerly anticipate the next record and the many to come, as they are still early on their journey.
I do wonder what they could do with a fuller backing band at their fingertips: a stronger presence of electronic keys, harmonica and even some brass instruments added into the mix. For only a song or two of course, as to not detract from their solid trio setup, which will always be their bread and butter.
For tickets, merchandise and more information on The Zac Shulze Gang, visit www.zacschulzegang.rocks
