Heavy Underground Supergroup Lorquin's Admiral Releases a Beautifully Eclectic Debut Album

 

Unless you've been living under a rock (hey, no judgement here), you've probably heard the buzz about Lorquin's Admiral by now. 

On January 6, 2025, Argonauta Records proudly announced the signing of the band, a supergroup composed of current and former members of Afghan Whigs, the Fizz Fuzz, Hermano, Luna Sol, Orquesta del Desierto, Sons of Alpha Centauri, and Yawning Sons. Lorquin's Admiral is fronted by husband-and-wife duo Dandy and Dawn Brown who trade off lead vocal duties. They're joined by Nick Hannon (Sons of Alpha Centauri), Marlon King (Sons of Alpha Centauri), and Steve Earle (former Afghan Whigs).  

Lorquin's Admiral's self-titled debut was released on June 27, 2025 via Argonauta Records.

Lorquin's Admiral - (self-titled) 

Track Listing:

1.) My Blue Wife

2.) Inexplicable Things

3.) Could Have Been Forever

4.) Black Water

5.) My Blue Husband

6.) Aren't We 

7.) Burn and Heal

8.) These Lovely Things

9.) To Temptation

When I first heard about this project, I was incredibly curious to hear the sound that would emanate from this group of seasoned musicians. Would it be in line with the bluesy, sunbaked tones of Hermano, boast a post-metal influence in the vein of Sons of Alpha Centauri, lean into a sophisticated style of grunge/alternative such as that of Afghan Whigs, be a little of everything, or be something completely different altogether? The answer, as it turns out, is something a little more difficult to compartmentalize. 

I was very pleasantly surprised to hear a strong foundation of grunge and alternative on Lorquin's Admiral's debut, but there are still plenty of nods to stoner/desert rock, especially within the last three tracks of the album. A few surprises are in store as well, including a retro heavy rock influence on These Lovely Things and the gritty, soulful blues heard on Black Water. However, each and every song incorporates bright and soaring desert tones to varying degrees. 

The highlight of the album for me is the interplay and contrast between the alternating lead vocals of Dawn and Dandy Brown, which naturally brings a lot of variety to the album. Overall, Dandy's vocals have an incredibly soothing quality. They also often carry notes of longing, especially on the songs My Blue Wife and Could Have Been Forever. 

Dawn, meanwhile, has very adaptable, feline vocals reminiscent of grunge goddesses of the 90s such as Shirley Manson and Kim Deal. Her voice often represents a darker side of the band, perhaps best demonstrated on the song My Blue Husband, often accompanied by heavier rock instrumentals. Conversely, on the track Burn and Heal, though still one of the weightier tracks on the album, the versatility of Dawn's voice shines through as she gives a palpably emotive performance. However, my favorite vocals from Dawn and my favorite song on the album is undoubtedly Inexplicable Things, which I also wrote about here. This particular track checks all the boxes for me as it delivers a murky, darkened blend of grunge and alternative rock underlined by the barreling drive of stoner. Dawn's voice alternates between a hypnotic, hushed alto croon in the verses and an impassioned yowl in the choruses. All the while, she's backed by bright lead guitar that tags along in such a way that it acts as a reply to her vocal inflections. 

The official music video for "Inexplicable Things" 

Final Thoughts

Lorquin's Admiral's debut album has a noticeably organic composition. There doesn't seem to be much regard for genre affiliation, yet the varied influences that helped shape these incredible artists still shine through. 

The band naturally brings a ton of the bright and soaring yet dense stoner/desert tones that we know and love around here, but I for one was psyched to hear an equal (or greater) amount of grunge and alternative influence in Lorquin's Admiral's eclectic sound. The largely poetic but universally relatable lyrics are the icing on the cake here, delivering a sophisticated but uplifting listening experience that will appeal to a variety of fans across the spectrum of rock music. 

I've already spoken at length about the unique vocal contributions husband and wife team Dawn and Dandy Brown bring to the table, but it would be criminal not to mention the standout chemistry among all the musicians here. Both vocals and instrumentals alike have a way of flowing together in a very natural manner, as if anticipating each other's next move. In this way, there's a shared vision that arises as the sum of its unique parts, generating a distinctive sound that could only be Lorquin's Admiral. 

Streaming Links

Spotify

Apple Music

You can order the album here!

A massive thank you to the band, Argonauta Records, and Grand Sounds PR for the promo!