Doghouse Sam & his Magnatones NEW ALBUM “GONE TOO LONG” 2025

Photo credit: Stefan Meekers / Keys and Chords.com

​Doghouse Sam first turned heads in 2012 with his debut album Buddha Blue, where he created a unique, new brand of Rhythm’n’Blues, using sounds pulled from the early 1950’s and giving it a twist to keep it fresh for modern ears. He upped the ante in 2014 and 2017 with the even better follow-up albums Knock Knock and Goin’ places, securing his place as an undisputed revelation in the European Rhythm’n’Blues scene. 

​After that and due to unforeseeable circumstances, the band unfortunately had to disappear from the spotlight for a few years. But now, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Doghouse Sam & his Magnatones return with their absolute best album yet "Gone too long".  With this fourth album Doghouse Sam once again moves strongly forward creating a unique sound that is distinctly his own.

This is one helluva bona fide great album and all the songs are played with a lot of heart. It’s crystal clear that the band raises the bar significantly with this new record. Doghouse Sam & his Magnatones deliver 10 vintage-sounding original songs that all explode out of the speakers with newfound confidence. A confidence that never wavers over the albums 40 minutes. 

When you push that play button you get an instantly recognizable sound, a sound that got these guys quite a reputation in the scene over the last years. The combination of punchy bass, thunderous drums, brutal guitar and excellent vocals immediately grabs the listener’s attention and leaves him gasping for air. The album is full of surprises and clearly a labour of love. All the songs were written by Doghouse Sam himself.

The new album was recorded at Doghouse Sam’s home studio in Belgium, with all the musicians playing in one room in order  to get a nice lively feel. A home recording had the advantage that all the songs were recorded in a very casual and relaxed atmosphere and you can really feel that in the final result. Up next the mix was done with the same honest and relaxed approach. This all ensured that the music sounds nicely authentic, traditional and yet at the same time fresh for modern ears.

The album fires on all cylinders with the opening track “gone too long”, a huge rock’n’roller with an appropriate title. “Shakey situation” has that signature brutal Doghouse-vibe all over it, where as “Low down dog” clearly implies these guys know their blues. “Time well spent” has a beautiful country-feel to it, features a very very catchy chorus and emphasizes the superb song-writing skills of Doghouse Sam. “Boogaa Hoogaa” has a tongue-in-the-cheek swing to it and “I’ll take it” is a nice example of what a vintage-sounding original is. The feel and sound clearly originate in the 50’s Rhythm’n’Blues, but it has a modern and fresh twist to it which makes all the songs sound contemporary. Doghouse Sam also demonstrates his exquisite bluesharp-skills on the toe-tappin’ rocker “Good lookin’ woman”. The hulking power chords of both the guitar and piano on “Nobody else around” makes you grin ear to ear, where as the excellent vocals and tasty pedal-steel guitar on  “The other side” evoke an irresistible americana feel. And this superb album ends with a wonderful harmonica instrumental “Stompin’ ”, which emphasizes this band’s versatility once again.

This is an honest album played with a lot of heart, which without a doubt will lead Doghouse  Sam & his Magnatones to many European festival stages. 
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​Tracklist :

1. Gone Too Long
2. The Other Side
3. I'll Take It
4. Shakey Situation
5. Nobody Else Around
6. Time Well Spent
7. The Booga Hooga
8. Good Lookin' Woman
9. Low down Dog 
10. Stompin'