No matter the genre, music has never belonged to one era or piece of inspiration. Rock music is no exception. Milk N’ Fox embraces this on their new record, The Last Song, which they released recently. The Colorado-based trio confidently explores a wide variety of sounds, spanning classic rock, grunge, and Americana. At the same time, Milk N’ Fox innovates, adding their own perspective and background to create an authentic, fresh sound.
Milk N’ Fox began releasing singles, such as Deep Day and No More Mon Amour, in 2023- but the trio started playing together well before their music hit streaming platforms. Drummer Mike Allen, bassist Kevin Daye, and guitarist/vocalist Chad Ellis have been collaborating since their high school days. In an interview with Good Morning Vail, the group explained that music has always been their passion, quoting bands like The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Modest Mouse, and Kings of Leon as early sources of inspiration.
While these musical influences certainly make their way onto The Last Song, Milk N’ Fox’s passion makes the earliest- and most prominent- appearance. The opening track, The Last Song, is a powerhouse, displaying striking similarities to Nirvana with its driving drum beat, electrifying guitar riff, and muffled vocals. It’s a raw, emotional, and intense start to the album, pulling listeners in immediately.
After opening with a jolt of energy, The Last Song casts a wide net in terms of the genres and emotions it explores. On Free From Chains, Milk N’ Fox cools it down with softer vocals and a slightly slower tempo, but continues to operate in the realm of alternative rock. The drum and bass-heavy intro make way for reflective commentary around fear and freedom, where Milk N’ Fox wastes no time offering their wisdom to listeners. The song explains that breaking the glass and letting fear “take control” helps us break “free from chains.” The trio undeniably takes their own advice, freely moving between lyrical topics, vocal ranges, and instrumental styles on the record.
Track five, David F. Letterman, takes the focus back to grunge, but with a calmer edge than explored on the opening number. This song’s steady drum pattern and electric guitar riff create an upbeat and relaxed atmosphere- at first glance, that is. Despite the band’s lyrical declarations that they “really don’t care,” the song progresses to show a more honest, vulnerable side of Milk N’ Fox. The lines “then I feel everything / can’t stop now, no I won’t stop now” speak to the flip side of such a care-free mindset, showcasing the album’s ability to navigate sharp emotional and instrumental transitions.
Milk N’ Fox highlights 90s rock and Americana on Knowing Me Well, a nostalgic song that clarifies their Colorado roots. The track is sonically similar to Dave Matthews Band’s Crash, albeit with a harder rock flair. Knowing Me Well also adds one of the record’s most impressive vocal performances, with Ellis holding some of his longest notes on the chorus, “my friends, you know me well.” It’s at this point on the record where themes of sentimentality and change appear on a larger scale. The repeated lines, “some will come and some will go / some will stay to find they home,” provide more insight into the album’s title and what The Last Song represents to the band.
Before closing out the twelve-song album, Milk N’ Fox brings the energy back up with Hey May, a track more than capable of becoming a modern rock anthem. It takes The Last Song to another level with standout guitar riffs, hooks, and grainy vocals, bridging the gap between 90s alternative rock and 2026. On the final song, Fortune Cookie, the band’s years playing together show; their transitions from rolling drums into guitar and bass riffs are seamless and build towards a climactic ending.
Altogether, The Last Song is a memorable display of collaboration, heart, vocal range, and instrumental talent. Milk N’ Fox shows a compelling debut album, and leaves listeners excited for what’s to come.
Eva Fajkowski