Originally Published on February 10th, 2026

We are a third into the month of February. As we are approaching our very special Valentine’s episode where we will be celebrating the artists you’ve referred, here are some of the really great songs of heard so far this month.

I’m Just a Man by Age of Infernal

Based out of Edinburgh, Scotland, Age of Infernal are an alt rock/blues rock band that wake the senses and set the neurons to fire with big sounds and heavy influences that include McCartney-esque vocals, May-ish big guitar finishes, and an acoustic groove that happily plugs itself to many mainstream and alternative genres.

I understand Age of Infernal can take on many faces and different looks as far as lineups go, but it revolves around the vision of one man, Mr. Dan Johnson, who acts as the visionary for this project; similar to Justin Vernon and his band, Bon Iver. Currently (and something I truly admire about them) Age of Infernal can be found exclusively on Bandcamp: I actually really do love this and have been deliberating exclusivity to the platform with my own music as well.

Age of Infernal’s most recent release is a song titled I’m Just a Man. It released on January 3rd of 2026 and has an impressive runtime of seven minutes and fifty-five seconds. The industry, of course will tell you that 8 minutes is too long (in some cases, maybe they’re right) but where Age of Infernal defy the odds are their ability to segment the song into parts, like a classical concerto.

The song includes work from Johnson on vocals, guitars, keys, drum programming, and percussion, Jack Ogilvie on guitars, vocals, and percussion, John Darling on the bass guitar, Natalie Williams Calhoun on the cello, and A Suggestive Inquiry on the piano.

I’m Just a Man was engineered and mixed by Johnson and mastered by Adam Whittaker. Jack Ogilvie provided the cover art.

I’m Just a Man opens with cello, piano, and acoustic guitar before bringing in (I presume) Johnson’s vocals. The accompaniment soon adds the support of a very simple percussion.

The song plays as a progressive build, adding layers along the way. Once the first chorus hits, electric guitars are implemented. The second verse keeps them on and adds a layered chorus of electric guitars playing a pseudo solo over the verse, boasting bright tones that are reminiscent of Queen or The Darkness.

As part one concludes, the progression strips down to simple acoustic and electric accompaniment and they switch out the vocals with a more baritone singer (maybe Ogilvie). The second part plays on a build just as the first part does and features a very impressive guitar solo. I also love the cellist peaking out through all of this sound. Calhoun has a very silky tone to her playing style and it really holds its own to the big sound of the band.

The last two minutes of I’m Just a Man are two minutes of epic instrumental showcase, the way our lord and savior, Eric Clapton, intended. Big, impressive guitar solos leading the way, big percussion, a progression that steadily allows the lead instruments room to explore their musicality, and just a big and beautiful sound.

Age of Infernal have a fantastic song here. It’s a testament to musicians everywhere; a reminder to play those instruments! As they move into 2026, they are planning to put together some live performances throughout the year. Anyone in the Edinburgh and surrounding areas should take note: this will not be a show to miss!

Beating Heart by Casey Wells

Casey Wells is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist out of Charleston, South Carolina. Wells debuted in 2017 with the single, Mystery Alive, but his debut album released in 2023.

Mixing a blend of organic instrumentation with a flair of ornamentation with high production quality, Wells has a style similar to Djo, Sufjan Stevens, and Grizzly Bear. His album Impermanence is a full length album featuring work exclusively completed by Wells. He wrote, performed and produced the 10 song, 32 minute work entirely by himself.

After Impermanence, Wells released the 2024 single, Setback. This song is one to stop and listen immediately. I think Wells really grasped at his potential here. This song is radio ready and is a perfect blend of all of the gifts that Wells encompasses as a musician and producer.

Two years later, he is back with the January 15 release of Beating Heart. At just under 3 minutes, Beating Heart maintains the vision that Wells has kept at the forefront of his music, while also showing an evolution in the design. Musically, this work defies any label of one genre. It falls under a blanket of categories that make it an easy listen for several. Of the artists referenced, I think Wells stacks up most comparable to Djo.

Instrumentally, Beating Heart sounds mostly synth but there several layers of sound. I do hear acoustic guitar that stays focused on giving the progression and the cadence of the rhythm some body.

The vocals are performed in an assembly of layers, creating a lead-by-committee. I like this because it allows Wells to pull back on each track but give the overall performance a lead volume without sounding strained.

I think the tempo for this song is perfect. It plays so well as a slow groove, still giving the listener something to tap their foot to.

I think Wells has something with Beating Heart. The sound is very contemporary, it fits right in with what the most interesting music in the mainstream is producing right now. He takes it a step further with independently writing, performing, and producing the record. This is an impressive release!