Song of the Day: “Believer" by Big Wreck

Nov 06, 2025

For me, Ian Thornley’s Big Wreck is a bit of an enigma… I’m convinced they are a lesser known example of the “Mandela effect” theory, and simply didn’t exist in my timeline in the late 90s when they exploded on the scene with “In Loving Memory Of…” which spawned the hit “The Oaf” that shot to the top of the charts.

At that exact moment in time I was working in the music industry, playing in two bands, and simply lived, ate, and breathed music… especially really good rock music like Big Wreck. And yet, somehow had no clue that this band existed? How is that possible? Well, of course I choose to believe that this was an flaw in the multiverse/matrix and not that I was asleep at the wheel and simply missed them. So yea, I’m going with that.

That said, I (re)discovered Big Wreck when they began releasing the 7.1, 7.2, & 7.3 EPs beginning in 2021, followed by older album remasters and eventually the Pages EP in 2023. I was instantly a fan (and absolutely would have been back in the 90s as well if they existed in my timeline… just sayin’). Their newest release, The Rest of the Story continues the band’s impressive evolution, serving as both a natural extension of the preceding Pages EP and a cohesive, full-length statement that re-establishes guitarist and songwriter Thornley’s status as an oft overlooked monster of modern rock.

Stylistically the album is a bit all over the place (in a good way), mixing hard rockers like “Holy Roller” and “Believer” with quieter, more thoughtful offerings like the fully acoustic “Laws of Man.” The thing is, it all works; not just because the song writing is so good, but the collective energy of the trio who recorded the record—Thornley, bassist Dave McMillan, and drummer Sekou Lumumba—is palpable, proving that Big Wreck can blend sophistication and raw power better than most contemporary acts.

My pick for “Song of The Day” is track number three, “Believer,” which perfectly encapsulates the band’s most celebrated elements: a killer, bass-driven verse, a huge, anthemic, radio-ready chorus, and a progressive, escalating solo that highlights Thornley’s instrumental prowess (Led Zeppelin “The Wanton Song” reference is kinda cool too). It’s the classic Big Wreck experience distilled into a single track.

Lyrically, the song tackles timely themes of disillusionment and resilience, capturing the feeling of standing firm amidst societal chaos. The conviction in Thornley’s vocal delivery makes the words deeply relatable and powerful. The obvious similarities with a certain singer from the band Soundgarden, definitely help fill a Chris Cornell sized hole in the rock music landscape.

Depending on which timeline you originated in, enjoy, or re-enjoy Big Wreck beginning with “Believer!”