Simon RushworthKashus Culpepper — Act I (Big Loud Records)
Some people are saying Rushonrock’s gone soft.
And, sure, you won’t find Kashus Culpepper troubling Kreator or Exodus in our end of year metal lists.
But the former US Navy recruit making waves on the rock and soul scene will be there and thereabouts when it comes to dishing out 2026’s top prizes.
Music’s music and this music is special.
It’s early days to be making bold claims about this year’s best new tunes but listen to Act I and you’ll understand why there’s conviction in the prediction that Culpepper’s in contention.
Kashus’s heady brew of rootsy country, rock, soul and funk is simply irresistible.
And the fact that he kicks things off alongside Rushonrock’s 2025 Record of the Year winner Marcus King adds an undisputable string to his bow.
King could well be the hottest thing in crossover rock right now.
Duelling with Culpepper on Act I opener Southern Man, the dude behind Darling Blue never sounded better.
And this is why even the most conservative of rockers won’t be able to resist the new kid on the Big Loud Records’ block.
At his most soulful, super cool Culpepper sounds like a latter-day Terence Trent D’Arby and that’s no bad thing.
But with King he kicks ass a la Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Opry NextStage Class of 2025 inductee pulls off country rock with aplomb.
Truthfully, there’s nothing Kashus can’t do. Act I’s the dramatic scene-setter this future star deserves.
Act I: too good
As debut albums go this one’s a dream.
It sets the bar high for what’s to come but Culpepper’s casual ascendancy into the big leagues suggests there’s no ceiling for this rising star.
For starters, skip to his haunting duet with Sierra Ferrell.
There you’ll discover a singer so in tune with his soul that a newly-formed partnership sounds like it’s been decades in the making.
The folksy Americana of Broken Wing Bird makes for a truly beautiful collab and underpins Culpepper’s outrageous potential.
Latest single Cherry Rose is another brave pick but Act I is an intrinsically bold body of work.
There’s really no need to include 18 songs here — Kashus has the makings of two full albums but he’s dropped everything, all at once.
If that means there’s still plenty left in his locker then hallelujah! Good times are coming,
Believe’s swampy blues is spellbinding and if Stay could have done without the strings at the start then the main man never sounds sweeter than on this stripped back ballad.
There’s plenty to unpack with Act I.
But give this diverse set the attention it deserves and the rewards are rich.
Just a pinch of Culpepper is guaranteed to spice up your year in music.
