When was the last time you got chills listening to a new song? The last time you put on something new and you perked up, your heart racing, realizing you’d found something you didn’t even know you were looking for? Take a minute to think about it if you need to, but in my case, I can honestly say that’s exactly what happened when I heard the new TRUSS album, FLUORESCENCE.

FLUORESCENCE is the sophomore album from Cleveland-based hard rock trio TRUSS, and it’s a glorious gut-punch of a record. Timing out just under 30 minutes, with just eight tracks, there’s not a single moment here that’s wasted. Each song follows perfectly on the heels of the one before. This is the kind of album that would have lived in my portable CD player for months if it had dropped in 2005 instead of 2025. FLUORESCENCE pulls you in from moment one, and it undeniably rewards repeat listening.

On an album this short and packed to the brim, every track is a highlight. “Headlock” hits you with a wall of heavy sound within seconds, and when vocalist Hannah Crandall joins the fray, her deep, melodic tone adds the perfect balance. It’s a powerhouse of an opening track with a wonderfully catchy chorus, showing off both the band’s lyrical wordplay and Crandall’s vocal range. This track also gives each member a chance to show off, as drummer Holden Szalek nails a truly impressive drum lead-in to a face-melting guitar solo from guitarist/bassist Eric Kennedy. You can tell, just from this opener, that these three know how to play off each other’s strengths to make the best music they can. To be clear, the best music they can make is absolutely incredible. The fact that the band self-produced, mixed, and mastered this record only makes all of this even more impressive.

“SELFISH” was an early single off the album, but still gives me a thrill every time I hear it. There’s a delicious guitar riff at the heart of this song, and it pairs perfectly with an opportunity for Crandall to really show off the power of her vocals. There’s a moment at the end of the second verse, right before the bridge, where every part of the song comes together in a mix so satisfying it really did give me a shiver when I heard it through headphones for the first time.

“HEAVY (Said I Needed Time)” features one of the album’s best basslines from Kennedy. This track has a deeper, darker sound and a clear nu metal influence that pairs well with its grief-focused subject matter. It very much sounds the way that being weighed down by your own sorrow and anger can feel — listening to it to channel those feelings can be deeply satisfying.

As the album moves along, TRUSS continues to show off their range, stretching out to demonstrate everything they’re capable of. “Tell Me Something” offers a more pop-punk based sound, built with the elements of the trio’s distinct style. “SOILED” goes heavier again, allowing Crandall to use her deeper range to growl out her frustrations, all while keeping a masterfully catchy melody. “Numb” is another single off the album, this time a call to attention related to the numb and isolated state we can all find ourselves in far too frequently. The bridge here builds to an absolutely transcendent conclusion.

“concession stand” is the album’s ballad, and it presents another opportunity for Hannah Crandall’s vocals to truly soar. When her soft vocals and Kennedy’s gentle guitar transition back into the heavier drum-backed sound for the final chorus of the song, it’s worth it just to close your eyes for a moment and let the music wash over you — carrying you somewhere completely new.

The album closes with “Drop To Zero,” another heavy song with a strong bassline. It’s a perfectly fitting conclusion to the emotional journey of the album, even as dark as it is. It builds beautifully, as the entire album does. The end result is a kind of catharsis, as each track takes you through struggle and heartache, giving you the perfect chance to exorcise some of your own as you sing along.

Without reservation, this is one of my favorite albums of the year so far. If you grew up listening exclusively to the local hard rock/alternative station once you got control of the radio dial, or you wore out every heavy album you could find in any format, give TRUSS a chance, and start this album from the beginning. You won’t regret it.

Catch TRUSS at any of their upcoming shows or catch up with them on Instagram.