Ben Gallaher clocks back in with sophomore album ‘Time,' an arena-ready mix of melody-driven country and heartland rock scheduled for release on September 26. Produced by Neil and Patrick Thrasher, the album marks the latest chapter in the career of a self-taught guitar hero whose journey began in small-town Pennsylvania. Growing up on a steady diet of ’90s country staples like Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw and BlackHawk, Gallaher hit the highway as a teenager, chasing music full-time. That road has since taken him across America’s stages, where he’s shared bills with Blake Shelton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr. and Lee Brice, building a reputation as one of country rock’s most exciting live performers.
After relocating to Nashville, Gallaher quickly carved out a place as a triple threat—singer, songwriter, and electrifying lead guitarist. His riff-driven style and raspy vocals have earned critical praise, with American Songwriter hailing him as “a promising young songwriter” and CMT spotlighting his “authentic artistry.” His viral ‘Stomp' riff exploded online with over 36 million organic views, inspiring more than 10,000 fan-made videos and earning nods from legends like Peter Frampton. Wide Open Country has already flagged him as one of the '10 TikTok Country Singers That Need To Be on Your Radar,' a testament to his growing influence. On new album ‘Time,' Gallaher’s searing guitar work is supported by an all-star cast of Nashville players, including Tom Bukovac, Jedd Hughes, Justin Ostrander, Adam Shoenfeld, and Ilya Toshinskiy—ensuring that his sophomore record balances raw firepower with seasoned craftsmanship.
‘Time' is a bold, full-throttle statement that cements Gallaher as one of country rock’s most promising voices. Where many of his peers lean into polish or pop gloss, Gallaher wears his 80s-rock influences proudly, mixing Bryan Adams rasp with Keith Urban drive and Rascal Flatts uplift. The result is a collection of songs that sound equally at home on country radio and in an arena packed with lighters (or, more likely, phone screens) held high. From roaring rockers to introspective ballads, ‘Time' thrives on the balance between big riffs and raw emotion.
The record opens with ‘I’ll Take You,' a sunshine-soaked rocker with a guitar riff that lives somewhere between Bryan Adams and Rascal Flatts. It barrels along on a wave of joy and love—“downhome over downtown and home grown over store bought”—setting the tone for an album that celebrates both life and music with unapologetic energy. ‘Rearview' keeps the momentum going with a more country-style riff but maintains that same breezy, euphoric feel. With Gallaher singing about driving with his girl, “singing like heaven’s gonna hear you,” it comes across like an early Keith Urban anthem—carefree, guitar-driven and full of open-road vibes.
Elsewhere, ‘Betcha Money' leans even harder into Gallaher’s Bryan Adams influences. The rasp in his vocals is pure 80s, though the lyrics stay firmly rooted in country storytelling—turning a girl “country” with Merle Haggard records, camo hats and fishing trips. Another superb guitar solo pushes it into rock territory, making it one of the standout uptempo cuts. Later in the album, ‘Dirt Ones' and ‘Mistakes' continue the anthem-ready streak. The former is a gritty midtempo rocker about staying true to your roots, Gallaher declaring, “You’re gonna burn up a lot of miles before you get where you’re going to.” The latter, darker in tone, brings in a 90s post-grunge heaviness reminiscent of Bryan Adams’ ‘Run to You' colliding with Nickelback, as Gallaher sings, “I’ve learned a lot from my mistakes to know I’ll probably make some more.”
But Gallaher isn’t all about wide-open rockers—he knows how to slow it down and dig deep. ‘Bullet' shifts gears with a moody mid tempo ballad that feels part The Calling, part Hinder, all while keeping a country cadence in its bones. The anthemic chorus—anchored by the promise that he’d take a bullet for the one he loves—explodes into a searing guitar solo that underscores the emotional punch. ‘Where Do You Go?' strips things back even further with restrained guitars and raw vocals, Gallaher asking, “Where do you go when your go-to’s gone?” It’s a heartbreak track tender enough to sting, but his rasp ensures it still lands as an anthem.
The album’s title track, ‘Time,' takes a reflective turn, blending banjo textures with a steady rock rhythm. “I wish I could move on like time,” Gallaher sings, delivering a line packed with hard-earned wisdom. It’s the kind of thoughtful song that elevates the album from being just a showcase of muscle riffs into something more meaningful. That theme continues with ‘Kinda Can’t Say No,' which uses acoustic guitars and a clever, infectious chorus to capture the push-pull of falling back into an old relationship, even when you know “last time was a mess.” It’s an arena-ready ballad with enough vulnerability to hit home.
If ‘Time' has one track destined to be remembered as its emotional core, it’s ‘Love is Hard.' Moody, atmospheric, and drenched in post-grunge guitars, it recalls the heyday of Hinder or The Goo Goo Dolls. Gallaher’s raspy vocal tears into the chorus with the line, “Love is hard, lonely’s harder,” a lyric sharp enough to stay with you long after the song ends. Had it been released twenty years ago, it could’ve sat comfortably alongside alt-rock radio staples, but here it gives the album its most powerful, moody punch.
Gallaher also tips his hat to his influences with a near-identical cover of Bryan Adams’ ‘Cuts Like a Knife.' It’s straight down the line, almost indistinguishable from the original—which may be the point. It’s less about reinvention and more about showcasing that Gallaher has the chops to go toe-to-toe with his hero. ‘Whiskey on a Wound' follows with a bluesy, bass-heavy darkness that channels Brantley Gilbert and Cory Marks, Gallaher drowning heartbreak at the bar with a growl in his voice and a shot in his hand. By the time ‘Stomp' closes the album, we’re in full back-porch, bluegrass-infused party mode. With handclaps, hollers and a blistering guitar solo, Gallaher signs off in rowdy, raucous style: “We’re proud of the ground we stomp.”
As a whole, ‘Time' is a quality record that blends country storytelling with rock’s anthemic power, carried by Gallaher’s distinctive rasp and searing guitar work. Think Bryan Adams and Hinder jamming with Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban and you’ll land close to the album’s DNA. What makes Gallaher stand out is that he’s both a powerful vocalist and a guitarist who plays like he’s struck a deal with the devil. In a Nashville where the boundaries of Country continue to expand, there’s definitely a space for Gallaher’s arena-ready mix of grit and heart. ‘Time' proves he’s not just chasing influences—he’s carving out his own lane.
Track list: 1. I'll Take You 2. Rearview 3. Bullet 4. Betcha Money 5. Where Do You Go 6. Dirt Ones 7. Time 8. Mistakes 9. Kinda Can't Say No 10. Love Is Hard 11. Cuts Like a Knife 12. Whiskey on a Wound Release Date: September 26th Record Label: QHMG/Stone Country Records
