Album Review: Bryan Adams - Roll With The Punches (2025)

Written: 27th August 2025

Bryan Adams has long been a figure who works on his own terms and Roll With The Punches confirms that he remains firmly rooted in the sound he has developed over decades. There is no attempt here to chart new territory, nor any real inclination to surprise the listener. Those who have followed him for years will recognise familiar hallmarks: his gravelled voice, clear guitar lines, and straightforward pop-rock structures that invite engagement.

The album begins with its title track which announces itself with assertive guitar work and a steady rhythmic drive. Adams’ vocals carry the words with authority and the chorus is immediately memorable. It establishes that the album is self-assured in its approach while remaining comfortably familiar. Lyrically, it underscores enduring struggle, loyalty and personal choice with the repeated refrain reinforcing determination and a straightforward, anthemic spirit - which is being well received when played live during his ongoing tour. Sometimes you need to fight / And stand up for what you think is right / But there are some things you never get to choose / Like when you have nothing, you have nothing left to lose. The final guitar solo, by comparison to some others on the album, is rapid, ebullient and effervescent.

Make Up Your Mind follows, offering a lighter and more buoyant tempo, exploring relational uncertainty with a sense of urgency in the guitar phrasing and percussion. The song is immediate and engaging without straying from the style that has defined Adams’ work. Never Ever Let You Go continues in a similar vein, presenting a melody that lingers, propelled by tight instrumentation and a vocal delivery that remains full-bodied. It is direct, easy to absorb, and grounded in the conventions of straightforward rock songcraft.

A Little More Understanding, which at times evokes Tonight We Have The Stars, introduces subtle blues inflections, adding tonal colour. Guitar textures and measured arrangements allow the vocals to remain central, providing warmth and presence. Regarding the single, Adams says, "For me, the sentiment of this song could not come at a better time. We need to be able to see each other with a little more kindness and compassion, and what better way than if we take a walk in each other's shoes. Go on, I dare ya’!" 

Life Is Beautiful brings a more reflective pace, its mid-tempo instrumentation and lyrical optimism offering a gentle interlude that complements the album’s rhythm without diverting from its core character. Love Is Stronger Than Hate incorporates acoustic layers and harmonica, adding narrative elements without departing from the album's overall approach. How’s That Workin’ For Ya? introduces a playful edge, the harmonica providing contrast, even if the polished production definitely softens some of the grit that could have been drawn from the song. Nevertheless, both tracks demonstrate a balance of structure and spontaneity, showing that Adams can still craft songs that feel considered yet natural.

With Two Arms To Hold You, the album dips slightly in quality, falling into sentimentality, being a little too saccharine to rank among the strongest slower songs in his repertoire; however, Be The Reason brings the tempo back up, with a chorus that is instantly engaging and rhythmic lines that maintain interest. The song exemplifies the album’s overall character: approachable, coherent, and - on the whole - enjoyable. The arrangements are clean, with each instrument occupying a well-defined space, allowing the songs to breathe and retain a sense of forward momentum.

The closing track, Will We Ever Be Friends Again, offers a contemplative conclusion. Personally, albums that finish with more driving, rocking tracks appeal more, yet the sparse instrumentation here gives weight to the vocal performance and leaves the listener with a reflective sense of closure. It reinforces that Adams prioritises the songs themselves, letting mood and phrasing dictate the pacing rather than forceful dynamics.

Throughout, the album confirms Adams as an artist comfortable in his own skin, producing music that is accessible, coherent and unmistakably his. There is little here that will astonish, yet long-time listeners will find the work immediately satisfying. Roll With The Punches does not aim to recapture the widespread attention that albums such as Reckless or Waking Up the Neighbours once commanded, nor is it trying to; instead, it celebrates the joy of performing music he clearly loves. Each song is self-contained, flowing naturally from one moment to the next, and the collection as a whole sits comfortably as a reflection of his enduring skill and style. It demonstrates that he remains fully engaged with his craft, producing material that is consistent, confident and recognisable without the need for reinvention. The album may not surprise but it succeeds in affirming why fans continue to follow him, delivering familiar pleasures with a quiet assurance that only experience can provide.

Roll With The Punches is released on 29th August 2025

https://lnk.to/rwtp-pre-order