GENRE; Acoustic Rock/ Blues/ Indie Folk

RELEASE DATE; 18 May, 2026

RATING; 4.1/5

Garrett Anthony Rice steps into bold and confrontational territory with “The Coastal Walls (the shame of everyone),” a haunting original single that refuses to soften its message. Released on 18th May 2026, the track serves as both a musical statement and a historical reckoning, tackling the enduring legacy of the American slave trade from 1619 to the present day. Rice does not approach the subject with subtlety, nor should he. Instead, he delivers an emotionally charged piece that forces listeners to confront centuries of exploitation, suffering, and silence through a lens of raw artistic honesty.

The single leans heavily into blues-inspired instrumentation, drawing unmistakable influence from the Deep South traditions that shaped so much African American musical culture. Recorded across the UK and Ireland, the production carries a smoky, almost cinematic weight that gradually builds into a deliberately disturbing outro. That closing section is particularly effective, transforming the song from a reflective blues composition into something deeply unsettling and emotionally exhausting in the best possible way. Rice’s decision to use sonic discomfort as a storytelling device demonstrates ambition and conviction rarely heard in modern independent releases.

What makes the single especially significant is its timing and fearlessness. Arriving as America approaches its 250-year anniversary celebrations, Rice challenges the celebratory narrative by spotlighting the brutality that helped shape the nation’s foundations. Inspired by figures such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali, Sidney Poitier, and Marlon Brando, he channels activism into art without compromising emotional depth. The song’s call for reparations and public accountability from nations that profited from slavery adds another layer of urgency to an already uncompromising release.

Garrett Anthony Rice is clearly not interested in creating comfortable music. As an artist from Greystones, County Wicklow, he continues to build a reputation for fearless songwriting that prioritises truth over commercial safety. “The Coastal Walls (the shame of everyone)” is provocative, challenging and deeply human, a song designed not merely to entertain, but to leave a permanent emotional mark on anyone willing to truly hear its message.

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