Railroad Earth release ‘Will of the Water’ in their 25th-anniversary year
The September 18 album captures a guitar-led roots band in a transitional lineup, with guests including Daniel Donato, Paul Hoffman and Ronnie McCoury.
Sep 20, 2026
Credit: Railroad Earth
Railroad Earth released ‘Will of the Water’ digitally on September 18 through Ineffable Records, marking a new studio chapter during the band's 25th-anniversary year. The group's own site confirms the date and says the record was made over two weeks in summer 2025 at Fort Nonsense, the studio built by singer-guitarist Todd Sheaffer.
The album is the only Railroad Earth release to feature Mike Robinson, Dave Speranza and Matt Slocum together. Guests include Daniel Donato, Greensky Bluegrass mandolinist Paul Hoffman, Lindsay Lou and Ronnie McCoury, widening the record's roots and bluegrass connections without displacing the band's guitar-centered ensemble identity.
Why it matters
Railroad Earth sit at a useful intersection of guitar-driven Americana, bluegrass and jam music. A new album in their 25th year, with Daniel Donato and other major roots players involved, gives Guitar Radar meaningful coverage outside the rock/metal cycle.
From Guitar News to Guitar Progress
Discover it here. Learn how it works. Practice it until it's yours.
Today's focus in Practice: Performance — Play like someone's listening.
Related
Pete Roth Trio release ‘Group Chat’, pairing guitar improvisation with Bill Bruford’s return
The September 18 CD/DVD documents Pete Roth, Mike Pratt and Bill Bruford in a jazz-rooted trio that moves through funk, classical material and open improvisation.
Sep 20, 2026
Deniz Cuylan returns to acoustic guitar on the intimate, borderless ‘For Luca’
The Turkish-born guitarist's September 18 album folds acoustic guitar into ambient, jazz, folk and modern-classical textures with an international cast.
Sep 20, 2026
Renee Perez and Svitlana Remniakova release violin-and-guitar album ‘A Touch of Sound’
The September 18 classical release pairs violin and guitar in arrangements and repertoire spanning Torelli, Vivaldi, Vaňhal and Paganini.
Sep 19, 2026
Greta Van Fleet release riff-led ‘Tear It Down’ ahead of fifth album
The September 18 single previews Palace for the People, due October 9, and arrives with a visualizer tied directly to the new recording.
Sep 19, 2026