RJ and the Painful Memories are a group we have featured now and again here in the magazine. It’s always nice to hear bands we’ve followed continuing to push forward and put new music out there.
Richard Archer – Guitar, Vocals
Marc Ritchie – Drums
Roger James – Bass
Sharing a bit of background from the press release:
R.J. Archer & the Painful Memories were formed in 2019 when Richard received a competition prize of studio time and recruited long-term friends to help with the recordings. The results were so good, they decided to carry on.
Two albums down the road (Hot Mess in 2021 and Horseplay! in 2023), critical comparisons were being drawn to everyone from MC5 to Grand Funk Railroad to Dr. Feelgood. With acclaimed sets at the Cambridge Salty Dog Festival, NFest and Buckfest, plus support slots with cult rock bands like Slady and Gypsy’s Kiss, they’ve earned a reputation as a killer live act too.
In January 2025, their third album The Cost of Loving Crisis was released to their best reviews yet, while the singles “Get It Together,” “Barbara” and “Out of Line” scored staggering amounts of airplay on rock stations such as Total Rock, Rock Radio UK, ERB and Amazing Radio. “Out of Line” was selected from thousands of submissions to compete in the Kerrang! and Marshall-sponsored competition The Deal.
The band are currently mixing and mastering their fourth album, Infernow, which is their hardest-rocking set of songs so far. It is scheduled for release on June 19, 2026.
R.J. says of the new single: “It’s a very simple song about reaching a breaking point in a relationship. Hopefully anyone anywhere can relate to it. It’s the first track to be released from the album, but it’s also the opening track, so I consider this the doorway to what is easily our heaviest set of songs.”
My Review:
This track was released on April 20, 2026, so it’s available on all platforms now.
This one begins with a rolling drum sound, driving the track forward with a layer of cool guitar riffs, while the bass digs in nicely underneath. The song charges ahead with some of those older rock sounds in the mix — a blues-infused rock ’n’ roll style with a groovy beat. A perfectly enjoyable three minutes, and a close cousin to an earlier track of theirs, “Get It Together.”
There’s no messing about here, just honest, driving rock music played with confidence and bite. If this is the doorway to Infernow, the full album could be a real blast.
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You can stream music from RJ and the Painful Memories here
By Stevie Ritson
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