Raised On Candy are back, and “Pickle Eyes” is a pretty damn good way to remind us why noisy, guitar-driven alternative rock still has a place in 2026. Following their Steve Albini-produced debut, Joe Penna and Scotty Imp return with a track that sounds raw, energetic and unpredictable, without trying to recreate the glory days of ’90s alternative rock. “Pickle Eyes” grabs you almost immediately with its sharp guitars and restless rhythm section. The song is heavy, but not in the traditional (metal) sense. The heaviness comes from the guitars, the drums and the way the whole thing is arranged to keep you uncomfortable. I like that. There is something wonderfully chaotic about Raised On Candy, but it is a controlled chaos. Joe Penna’s vocals sit perfectly inside the music, never trying to overpower the guitars. Meanwhile, Scotty Imp’s drumming is one of the track’s strongest weapons. His playing is energetic, expressive, with those big fills giving the song an extra kick every time it seems ready to settle down. The production by Ray Ketchem also deserves credit – the sound is clear enough to reveal the details, but it still keeps that live, organic feeling. You can hear the musicians playing together rather than listening to a polished studio construction. “Pickle Eyes” also has enough melody to stay in your head after the noise disappears, and that is its biggest strength. If this is a first taste of “Play Marbles On The Turnpike”, then the new album should be worth paying attention to. “Pickle Eyes” is catchy, loud and alive— that is exactly what rock ’n’ roll should sound.
♦ 8/10
Dimitris Zacharopoulos
