“Chains”- Max Norton
Credit: Stephanie Westerman
"Chains is an anthem for the summer. Breaking away, disappearing, and coming back around. Play it loud!"
That’s not just Max Norton’s take — it’s practically a mission statement for the track. Chains is one of those songs that seems to bottle the exact feeling of hitting the road with the windows down, chasing freedom with one eye on the rearview mirror. It’s got the sweat and shimmer of a July afternoon, wrapped in gritty indie rock with just enough pop sheen to make it radio-ready.
After years behind the drumkit for high-profile artists, festival stages, and late-night TV shows, Max Norton has flipped the script. Chains is all him — written, performed, and produced — and it pulses with that restless, solo-artist energy: hungry, urgent, and unafraid to sound huge.
Max’s latest chapter is equal parts London haze and Alabama roots — and Chains captures that sonic duality perfectly. Think The War on Drugs meets Arctic Monkeys by way of Kings of Leon after a Muscle Shoals soul baptism. The guitars chime and grind in the same breath, while the beat is locked in like only a seasoned drummer can deliver. His voice floats somewhere between longing and liberation — raw enough to feel, but smooth enough to sing along.
And yes, this one begs to be played loud — car stereo, back porch speaker, packed club PA — it doesn't matter, it works.
Max Norton’s personal geography is all over this single — and that’s a good thing. Born in Tampa, sharpened in Nashville, electrified in London, and now soaking in the legendary waters of Muscle Shoals, his sound is shaped by movement, by place, and by a need to evolve.
He spent the last year and a half living in London, chasing inspiration after falling in love with the UK during performances on Later... with Jools Holland and at Glastonbury. That transatlantic influence shows up in the layered textures of Chains — a little fog, a little grit, a whole lotta soul.
Credit: Stephanie Westerman
Now back stateside and calling Alabama home, Max is tapping into that deep Southern studio magic. As he puts it, “All of my favorite records were made in the Shoals. The Singing River, as they say. There’s just something in the water.” You can feel that reverence for the past, but Max is charging forward — not stuck in retro, but echoing it in his own, fresh voice.
Thematically, Chains hits that sweet spot between personal and universal — a metaphor for whatever you’re trying to shake loose. A toxic relationship, a dead-end town, old habits — the song doesn’t define the chains for you, it just hands you the key and tells you to floor it. There’s a yearning here, but it’s not moody — it’s defiant, optimistic, electric.
Max isn’t just a studio wizard — he’s got the live chops to back it all up. Having already played legendary venues and shows (from Seth Meyers to David Letterman), he’s no stranger to the stage. But this era is personal. Expect stripped-back, high-energy performances where the passion is palpable.
Catch him live in Florence, Alabama on July 25th and September 13th, with more dates dropping soon. This is the kind of artist you want to see in a small venue now — so you can say you were there before the crowds catch on.
Because Chains is the sound of an artist finally stepping out from behind the kit — and doing it with confidence, soul, and just enough swagger to turn heads. It’s both a banger and a statement.
If you love songs that make you feel like taking off — down the highway or into the next chapter of your life — this one’s for you.
“Chains” is available now on all major streaming platforms
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