HIGHLAND folk rock outfit Torridon release their latest album, Break The Chains, signalling a significant progression in the band’s style, sound, vision and drive.

The aim of the record is to replicate the energy of the band’s live performances as well as to showcase their serious and original storytelling and songwriting.

Several tracks are inspired by men’s mental health and the band’s real-life experience of suicide among young men in Scotland, bravely confronting the silence and taboo around the subject head on.

This is not a band telling tales of the past, but instead one that fires at the heart of a widespread problem in today’s society. The loss of a cousin and a best friend in the same month in August 1996 is the inspiration behind the heart-wrenching Sweet 16, full of raw emotion and trauma, while the uplifting third single Lighthouse, released in May and filmed with Still Game actor Scott Reid, encourages men to talk, backing the mantra: it’s OK not be to OK.

READ MORE: Belhaven's 300 years to be marked with musical extravaganza

Torridon founding member Kenny Smith said: “The songs on this album represent real-life stories and experiences from the band’s members and close family and friends – they are not Highland tales and fables but a representation of our present-day reality.

“Too many people shy away from sharing their problems and feelings, so if this album changes just one person’s mind about opening up or prevents one person from taking their own life, then our job is done.

“We’ve worked incredibly hard to produce an album that has a genuinely refreshed direction and sound. I have been developing my song-writing over the last few years and this record draws influence from rock acts such as Runrig, Del Amitri and The Saw Doctors to produce a serious but uplifting sound that we’re very proud of. We’re looking forward to sharing it with everyone.”

Over the past 14 years, Torridon have built a reputation for rocking venues and festivals throughout Scotland, including Belladrum, Loopallu, Tiree, Killin, Bute and Mull festivals, The Ironworks in Inverness, Glasgow’s O2 Academy and Aberdeen’s The Lemon Tree, as well as audiences in France, Italy and Ukraine.

They now return with an album and a sound that has a new-found depth and purpose worthy of a place among Scotland’s original high-impact folk rock bands.

Break The Chains is available to stream and download, and buy on CD and vinyl, on Friday, September 20