Alabama-based rock band Bound South is preparing to release their second full-length record, Murder River. Comprised of vocalist/guitarist Zak, rhythm guitarist Matt, bassist/vocalist Eri, lead guitarist/pianist Caleb, and drummer JW, this five-piece not only pays homage to, but also highlights, their Southern roots.
Bound South’s beginnings go back to 2022, when Zak stumbled across a Facebook post from a drummer – JW – looking to form a band. Zak and JW soon found that they clicked, so they started practicing with the intent of writing music and playing shows. They had other members here and there, but they needed musicians who were as dedicated as them, who, in Zak’s own words, wanted to “grow together as a band, brand, and business.”
In 2024, Zak went to an open mic night and that’s where he met Eri. She was playing guitar at the time, but they quickly discovered there was more to her. “She’s a fierce singer/songwriter,” says Zak. Bound South was short a solid bassist, so they asked Eri, and she rose magnificently to the occasion, now playing the role of bassist, co-writer, and co-singer.
With Eri in place, the band started putting together their first album, combining some of Eri’s songs with their own. There were a couple more lineup changes through that album cycle and into the summer of 2025. Zak reached out to Caleb to step in as lead guitarist, and Matt to fill the shoes of electric rhythm, and the current Bound South was born.
Drawing from their various inspirations, the band showcases a wide array of subgenres falling under the umbrella of Southern rock and country, both musically and lyrically. Listeners can find everything from bluegrass to blues, folk to outlaw country, and all the places in-between, with a modern twist.
Bound South have been working on their second studio album since the fall of 2025, with recording beginning in October and wrapping in December. The plan is to release a single every two weeks, then cap it with an album release show soon after. So far, there have been two singles, “Murder River” and “A Gambler Knows a Cheat.” The third single, “Judgement Day,” is set to drop on March 13th.
Murder River will be out late spring of 2026.
Follow Bound South’s socials for all the latest news and updates – and for the date of the heavily anticipated album release show!
Mostly Music 