Tom Worrf’s "FAIRY TALES FROM…" is a gritty, soulful love letter to Rock’s rawest roots
In a world where rock often feels too polished for its own good, Tom Worrf has arrived with a six-track EP that’s gloriously rough around the edges — and all the better for it. FAIRY TALES FROM… is a fierce, slightly blues-soaked romp through the heart of rock 'n' roll tradition, balancing dirty guitar riffs with soulful introspection and a modern sensibility. Clocking in at a lean 22 minutes, it’s a record that wastes no time, hitting hard from the opening note and refusing to let go.
Worrf’s influences wear proudly on his sleeve — The Black Keys, Royal Blood, and the spirit of Jack White loom large over these tracks — but there’s a refreshing authenticity in how he channels them. This isn’t mimicry; it’s reverence repurposed. The EP captures the sweaty, instinctive magic of a live venue while retaining the intimacy of a confessional bedroom recording. It’s instinct meeting craftsmanship, and the result is both nostalgic and immediate.
The opening track, “Rock N' Roll Star,” sets the tone with a crunchy, classic rock feel, built on a foundation of thick, fuzzed-out guitar and a rhythm section that drives like a V8 muscle car. Lyrically, Worrf is open and unguarded, wrestling with ambition, identity, and the restless pull of the road. His voice, raw and wonderfully unvarnished, carries the kind of gravelly soul that feels earned, not affected. It’s the perfect curtain-raiser for what follows.
Each of the six tracks on FAIRY TALES FROM… contributes something unique while keeping the EP’s heartbeat steady. There’s a thrilling unpredictability in the instrumentation — moments where blistering guitar solos crash headlong into stripped-back, atmospheric bridges, or where a simple, haunting vocal line suddenly detonates into a wall of sound. Worrf keeps you guessing without ever losing cohesion, a testament to both his instincts and attention to detail.
Standouts like “On Your Arms” and the closer “Diamonds” showcase his ability to balance grit with emotional heft. It’s in these moments where the EP’s emotional core shines through, revealing the artist beneath the bravado.
Production-wise, FAIRY TALES FROM… strikes a perfect balance between the organic and the intentional. There’s a lived-in warmth to the recordings, with just enough room sound and analog fuzz to give it that visceral, almost tangible quality. It feels as though the songs were born in dimly lit rooms, over beers and late-night jam sessions, and captured without sanding down their edges. The energy of live performance pulses through each track, a reminder that this music was made to be played loud and in the moment.
Thematically, Worrf navigates well-worn territory — love, loss, ambition, self-doubt — but he does it with a poet’s eye for detail and a rock star’s swagger. His lyrics land with honesty and purpose, never feeling contrived or ornamental. These are songs about real things, written by someone who’s lived them.
If this EP is any indication, Worrf isn’t just another name in the blues-rock revival — he’s one of its most promising torchbearers. FAIRY TALES FROM… is the sound of an artist not just paying homage to his influences, but carving out a space for himself in the lineage of rock’s great storytellers.
It’s one of those records that needs to be experienced with an untouched front to back listen. Get into and crank it up, but don’t forget to follow along either, by clicking those links below.
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