Philadelphia, PA’s Heavy Shrug stepped into the music scene with a powerful image. The band’s new single “Green Souls” is filled with intense lyrics, epic guitar solos, and a dream state feel overall.
Released on August 6, 2026, Heavy Shrug’s latest single “Green Souls” is an indie anthem filled with loads of hints and nods to their various influences. With an eclectic background in their tastes, “Green Souls” taps into an indie shoegaze tone for the guitars, with an alt-rock and grunge vibe shining through the powerful vocals and lyrics.
Listening to the drum centered opening of the track transports the listener into the world of Heavy Shrug, with each instrumental line being carefully written and produced, as soon as they make their entrance into the track. The vocals further encapsulate the listener, drawing them into a reflective track that hooks you in with lyrics and guitar parts.
The instrumental outro of the song showcases each band member’s instrumental talents, with Will Heinemann-Johnson’s guitar solo tapping into the band’s rock influences. In listening to this track, it will make you want to jump out of your seat and totally rock out.
As described on their Bandcamp, “Green Souls is a song about not knowing who you are, and trying to change yourself for someone else. It’s about having someone else become your personality. It’s about misunderstanding love for sacrifice and fake-ness. It’s about giving up who you are, and trying to be someone who you think someone else wants you to be” (Heavy Shrug). The track most certainly reflects lyrically and instrumentally the description that the band provides for this track, having the listener feel the exact message that Heavy Shrug wants to put out through this song.
Heavy Shrug emerged from the DC band Frend, when singer-guitarist James Keary and bassist S.G. Catoe moved to Philadelphia in 2019. There, they started playing gigs with drummer Greg Foran. As COVID put the trio’s plans on hold, they came back even stronger as a four-piece with Foran’s hometown best friend, guitarist Will Heinemann-Johnson, was brought on board to the project. With new songs and aspirations coming together for the four, they renamed the band Heavy Shrug in 2023, teasing new tracks and shows.
Heavy Shrug’s sound and image are setting the tone for their highly anticipated debut LP, Viscera, which is set to release on September 19, 2026, via Bad Catt Records.
Listen to “Green Soul” on all platforms now.
