John Batdorf - Anthem for the Damned (2025)

John Batdorf has a new album of all original songs thoughtful rock songs that offer an outstretched hand of hope and his signature ascending aerial vocals: Anthem for the Damned. John has intriguing vocals that are in the same range and even somewhat akin to Steve Perry’s, and his songs tend to showcase that talented arc.

The title track launches the album with bright chords and John sings: “there’s anthems for those who never surrender until they reach their goals… but where’s the anthem for the unsung lost ones? Just wait ’cause the rescue is coming.” Batdorf tells us “I wish this “anthem for the damned” could start a healing of a shattered life and convince anyone counting down to oblivion to just wait five minutes. Don’t surrender just yet. This moment may seem like it will last forever, but it won’t. Give the title song a chance to speak to your broken heart and then give the rest of the album a chance. The songs that follow represent so much that’s worth living for.” It is to you I sing “It’s not your time, it’s not this place, just wait cause the rescue is coming. And I’ll be damned if I don’t sing: Your time’s gonna come BUT IT’S NOT TODAY.”

Next up on “State I’m In,” the lyrics play metaphorically with the concept of “states”: “The weather’s better in the state I’m in / It’s just so beautiful and I plan to stay / Left all the darkness in the state I’ve been / The state I’m in, is not that way,” and as it continues there’s a twist: he’s in a state of grace.

Even when we get to a song like “Burn It Down” it’s about dissolving ego and just enjoying life now rather than living in glory days and fame achieved a few years in the past, so as it sounds like it could be an aggressive song, it’s really a sunny heartland type song of truly good things to come. Similarly in “Help Me I’m Falling” it’s “falling is the price for lessons learned.” “50” is a lovely and catchy anniversary toast.

Looking at the album cover art you might think the songs within are a bit darker than in fact they turn out to be. These are soaring power pop rock songs suffused with supportive optimism and liberating vibes, crescendoing vocals, kindness and love.