After a 4-year break from the recording studio and a tumultuous couple of years on the personal front; 2020 sees the release of Mike Elrington's ninth album 'Aftershock'. Shaped by the pain & sadness of his marriage breakdown to the mother of his two small children, this album is by far Elrington's most personal work to date. Passion, grief, heartbreak, sadness, recrimination and coming out the other side of the whole sorry mess; these are the themes that run through the 12 tracks on 'Aftershock'. The songwriting process for Elrington was incredibly raw and confronting, but also therapeutic and eventually, liberating. As well as being his most intimately honest release, the album is also Elrington's most experimental. Having always been inspired to try and create newer, fresher sounds and stylings for his beloved blues/roots music, and also for the acoustic guitar, with 'Aftershock' it's apparent that Elrington has well and truly let the shackles come off. Lead single 'She's On My Mind Again' is a great example of this; the blazing blues riffs fused with intense, bouncing grooves, hip-hop beats and big chorus hooks – perfectly presenting the blend of old and new influences Elrington is so keen on pursuing. Second single 'Don't Give Me A Dime' again features a hip-hop flavoured bounce, with guest rap vocalists mixed with a blues inspired chanting chorus.