Justin Bloss - Claymore (2024) Hi-Res

Singer/Songwriter living in Tulsa, OK. Touring Fall and Winter 2024 for the release of his upcoming full length LP titled Claymore, opening for John Moreland and American Aquarium. Justin Bloss has been playing the dive bars and tiny clubs around Tulsa for nearly twenty years with only a handful of releases that might give the rest of the world a hint at the genius that the locals have known for quite some time.

There is something about life in Oklahoma that brings out the depth in a writer and there is a long list of notable Okie authors and songwriters to support that claim. You can add Bloss to that list with the release of his first full-length record, Claymore, on December 27th. He says he draws inspiration mostly from literature and describes his songs as “dark poetry often telling stories of war, drugs, and nature’s battle with humanity.” Is that deep enough? He cites fellow Tulsan John Moreland as a major influence on his songwriting style and gives credit to Moreland’s 2013 record In The Throes as his deep-dive entry into the craft.

His first EP was released in 2015: a four-song self-produced effort recorded at the famed Ardent Studios in Memphis. It was another six years before Justin came out with Termina, sporting five tracks and a better grasp on how his writing would sound. Two of those songs remain staples of every set Bloss performs. Earlier in 2024 came the three-song EP Diaspora and the compilation of those two most recent releases on a single CD.

The “year of growth,” as Bloss describes 2024, included a run of shows opening for Moreland and closing the year with a run of direct support for the final leg of American Aquarium’s big tour. Frontman BJ Barham called Bloss his most listened to artist of 2024 and posted on social media that “it was a real treat to sit backstage and listen to him play the soundtrack to my year every single night,” adding that “If he is coming anywhere near you in 2025, be sure to make it a priority to see him.”

All of this brings us to Claymore. Nine tracks of haunting beauty that you’ll have to hear for yourself to fully appreciate. I reviewed a John Moreland record a few years back and when it came to the lyrics, I wrote that it would be folly for me to try and interpret what the man is saying because its going to mean something different to everyone who hears it. The same applies to Justin Bloss. It’s not that the words are convoluted or hard to understand, it’s just that they are so PERSONAL. Justin himself says he is “devoted to the craft refusing to leave anything unsaid.” Each song is delivered in an approachable way with his understated fingerpicked guitar and the most minimal accompaniment, but the lyrics are the heart and soul of each one. Give yourself some quiet alone time and prepare to listen to Claymore on repeat.