Sam Russo has returned with Hold You Hard, a new full-length album that expands his sound without losing the direct, personal voice that has always set him apart. Known for writing songs that focus on quiet tension and emotional honesty, Russo continues to move at his own pace, avoiding trends while pushing deeper into his own style. This record marks his fourth release with Red Scare Industries and features a full band made up of Chris Stockings on guitar, Josh Hurrell on bass, and Matt Walrond on drums.
The album explores themes that have long shaped Russo’s work—distance from home, the push and pull of desire, and the unsettled feeling of being caught between places. His lyrics drift through the calm fields of East Anglia and the washed-out glow of American coastlines, creating a landscape that feels both grounded and wandering. Even though Russo comes from outside the usual UK punk hubs, his writing feels close to the heart of the scene, offering clear, steady observations shaped by long drives, late nights, and the quiet moments in between.
Russo’s path has always been built on slow growth and steady connection. Years of touring have earned him a dedicated following, leading him to share stages with artists like Tim Barry, Lucero, The Lawrence Arms, and Dan Andriano. A European tour with Andriano and Brendan Kelly eventually led him to Red Scare, beginning a partnership that has shaped much of his recorded work.
In 2023, Russo formed a new band and spent the summer rehearsing after hours in the file room of a metal shop in Haverhill. Those sessions produced the seeds of what would become the opening track of Hold You Hard. Within months, the group shifted fully into shaping the rest of the record.
The full-band songs dig into a rough, lively mix that pulls from Southern California punk and the grit of UK DIY culture, while the acoustic tracks—one written with Vinnie Caruana—bring out the softer, more vulnerable edges of Russo’s writing. Across the album, he examines how love changes over years, how memory shifts, and how relationships evolve, capturing the quiet weight and real comfort of giving yourself fully to someone else.
Check out the video for “Bruises and Sunburn”:
