Altered Five Blues Band Announces New Album

Milwaukee's powerhouse Altered Five Blues Band returns with their eighth studio album, Hammer & Chisel, set for release February 27. It's a simmering set of 11 original songs that showcase why this award-winning group has remained at the forefront of contemporary blues for over two decades, performing in 13 countries around the world.

The album's lead single, "I Got It Good," is out today along with an official video. Inspired by a day of pure good vibes, the song subverts the blues tradition by swapping sorrow for satisfaction—a funky blues feel-good anthem wrapped in classic R&B swagger including a horn section.

The album was recorded over just four days in Nashville, TN. Belted out with gusto by singer Jeff Taylor, each track crackles with the energy of a band firing on all cylinders—tight musicianship, razor-sharp guitar work, and witty lyrics that cut straight to the bone. From the opening salvo of the funky, horn-driven "I Got It Good" through the cautionary "Who Can You Trust" to the empowering closing statement of "The Will of Man," the album demonstrates the kind of top-notch performance that can only come from five musicians who've spent 24 years honing their collective sound.

As the band explains, they've been "hammering away, scraping and chiseling our way forward, carving out our own corner of the blues," with the album title itself serving as a metaphor for their relentless creative process. Hammer & Chisel explores universal themes that resonate with anyone navigating life's complexities: love, loss, resilience, and redemption. The emotional range is impressive—from the resilient hope of "Lotta Love Left in Me" and the unwavering devotion of "Hell or High Water" to the swampy Delta blues seduction of "Dare Me to Do It,” the rule-breaking attitude of the title track, and the haunting personal reckonings of "Can't Shake It," the band navigates everything from tender vulnerability to defiant independence with equal conviction.

Produced by multi-GRAMMY winner Tom Hambridge and featuring guest harmonica ace Jason Ricci on three tracks, Hammer & Chisel captures Altered Five Blues Band exactly where they are now: seasoned, sharp, and still hungry to create. It's an album that honors the blues tradition while carving out a sound that's all their own. 

Hammer & Chisel will be released on CD, special metallic silver vinyl and on all digital platforms.