Mason Hill - Twisted single review
Gareth Griffiths • 19 February 2026
I first saw Scottish rockers Mason Hill when they supported Marco Mendoza at Glasgow’s much missed Hard Rock Café. Google tells me it was almost a decade ago, in May 2016. Whilst my memory couldn’t quite remember the year without the aid of the internet, what I can remember clearly is the hunger and power that the young Glasgow band displayed that night. I was so impressed that I bought their EP for £5. I then bought another one when they played at the inaugural Winterstorm Festival in Troon later that same year and played some of the tracks on my much-missed (by me!) Sunday Rock Show on local radio throughout Ayrshire. I took great pride in watching their raw talent blossom into something quite special with a much-anticipated debut album and a live album release. It was all going so well… until singer Scott Taylor called it a day in 2023.
Mason Hill assured fans they’d be back and after a long and frustrating wait, they were true to their word, returning in October of last year with a brand-new singer and a bold new sound with the single ‘Remember’. Tom Ward (vocals), James Bird (guitar), Craig McFetridge (drums), Matthew Ward (bass) and Marc Montgomery (guitar) then made a stunning return to the live stage with two sold-out shows in London and Glasgow, showing that they were well and truly back and hungry for more. A UK Tour for March was recently announced and now they continue on the comeback trail with another new single, ‘Twisted’, set for release on Friday 20th February 2026.
The much heavier new sound continues in the intro to ‘Twisted’ with a riff that’ll blow your speakers wide open, shake your windows and frighten the neighbour’s cat. Imagine Creed in their arena-bothering heyday or even current day Alter Bridge. Now, turn up the heaviness a notch or two and double the power and you’ve got the gist! Tom Ward’s voice bristles with intensity as he spits the lyric “I’ll sit there in silence” whilst McFetridge’s drums reverberate off the walls during the verse.
Heavy rhythm guitar and bass riffs take the song into its more melodic yet no less heavy chorus. It’ll only take a few listens before you’ll find yourself singing along and opining “can’t we just exist. I know it’s twisted but baby I’ve missed it”, such is the infectiousness of the chorus. That’s the sign of a good song in any genre of music!
The bridge section is as heavy as anything I’ve heard in recent years. It’s a muscular tour-de-force of prominent and powerful bass, loud and intense drums, riff-heavy guitars and almost death metal-like growling. I dare you to listen without bursting into an energetic session of headbanging or an incredibly intense bout of air guitaring! You might even set up a mosh pit in your living room and inadvertently bounce granny and grandpa around like human pinballs! There’s no time for shredding guitar solos. This one is all about the riff!
The general feel of the song is the kind that would do very well in the American rock and metal market. It’s hard rock, yet it’s modern metal. I’ve already mentioned Creed and Alter Bridge but I’m also thinking Shinedown and Stone Sour, maybe even some elements of Papa Roach and Gojira. The depth of the music means that when you listen to it, you’ll find your own comparisons and elements of other bands that could be wildly different from my opinion… but one thing is for certain: it’s the new sound of Mason Hill!
‘Twisted’ continues the bold new sound of Mason Hill. It’s a heavy slice of modern hard rock and metal with powerful riffing, high energy and a musical intensity that can’t fail to impress. Mason Hill are most definitely back… and I like what I hear!
‘Twisted’ will be released on all the usual platforms on Friday 20th February 2026. An accompanying video will be released on the same day. Subscribers to the Mason Hill mailing list will already have received a link for the video, ahead of its official release. Tickets for the UK Tour in March/April are selling fast, so get yours now!
Tickets for the Mason Hill dates are currently on sale with some venues already showing low ticket warnings.
Tuesday 17th March – Manchester, Academy 3
Wednesday 18th March – Bristol, Exchange
Thursday 19th March – London, Underworld
Friday 20th March – Wolverhampton. KK’s Steel Mill
Sunday 22nd March – Glasgow, The Garage
https://www.masonhillofficial.com/