Rosetta West – “God of the Dead”

Rosetta West’s new album, “God of the Dead”, is a bold, freewheeling ride from a band that’s never been afraid to throw the rulebook out the window. The Illinois crew blends their signature blues rock with unexpected turns into punk, funk, acoustic reflection, and feedback-drenched instrumentals. It feels like a record made without looking over anyone’s shoulder, just musicians following their instincts.

Joseph Demagore leads the charge on vocals, guitars, and piano, with Mike Weaver and Nathan Q. Scratch swapping drum duties and Orpheus Jones on bass. The vocals have a direct, unpolished quality that fits perfectly with the raw feel of the songs. The lineup gets a shakeup on a couple of tracks, with Louis Constant on bass for “Midnight” and Caden Cratch on drums for “Boneyard Blues.” That variety in players adds to the album’s restless energy and unpredictable mood swings. It’s not easy to pick just one favorite track, but the one I kept playing again and again is “My Life”.

Rosetta West’s long history in the underground scene shows here. They’ve kept their independence, built a global fanbase, and scattered their catalog across Bandcamp, YouTube, and stranger corners of the world. “God of the Dead” is more proof they’re not slowing down or playing it safe. If you dig this release, follow Rosetta West on social media to stay in the loop on their plans for the rest of 2025.