Another stellar outing from the country/folk phenomenon. It seems like just yesterday, Zach Bryan was the buzzy independent country artist flying out of the ultra-talented Oklahoman country scene after releasing his stellar, independent debut album, DeAnn, back in 2019. Inspired by the likes of Turnpike Troubadours and Tyler Childers, you always got the feeling that Bryan was going to be a superstar. However, no one could have predicted just how otherworldly successful he has become over the past seven years. To put it plainly, Bryan has reached international superstar status. Over the past 12 months, Bryan has seen some of the highest highs of his career, primarily selling his catalog for a staggering $350 million dollars, becoming the eighth highest-selling country artist of all time according to the RIAA and, most notably, setting the record for highest-attended concert in U.S. history when he performed to a crowd of 112,408 at Michigan Stadium. With that being said, however, Bryan has also experienced arguably the lowest lows of his career as well. Even ignoring all of the aftereffects of his messy, public breakup with Barstool’s Brianna Chickenfry from last year, Bryan managed to find himself in the crosshairs of plenty throughout 2025. Beyond stirring up criticism after telling a 14-year-old fan to “GOMD” (get off my d*ck) after failing to meet with fans after his second of three nights at MetLife Stadium, he would also attempt to fight Gavin Adcock at Born & Raised Festival after months of prodding from the “Never Call Again” singer. And finally, he found himself at odds with the White House itself after teasing his highly-controversial song taking aim at ICE, “Bad News” (which appears here on With Heaven On Top). Long story short, it’s been a year full of ups and downs for Bryan, especially in the public eye. On top of all that, Bryan also recently got married to Samantha Leonard in San Sebastian, Spain, over New Year’s. Ultimately, With Heaven On Top comes at a fascinating time in Bryan’s career. There’s absolutely no doubt that the numbers and dedicated fans are there. However, with the growing divide between his most dedicated listeners and some folks who have grown tired of the controversy, this album feels like it carries a huge weight in terms of Bryan’s future, especially given the fact that it was announced all the way back in July. View this post on Instagram So what’s the verdict with With Heaven On Top? Right off the bat, this is an album you’re automatically going to love if you’re a fan of the “Something in the Orange” singer. In particular, if you’ve been a fan of his venture into a more Springsteen-inspired, horn-instrument-heavy sonic style as of late, there’s a lot to love here. Tracks such as “Appetite,” “Santa Fe,” “Anyways” and the highly-anticipated “Dry Desserts” sound lovely and inject the project with a tangible amount of energy throughout, thanks to the production choices. In case you thought that Bryan had lost the ability to deliver some absolute gut-punches, he delivers them early and often here on With Heaven On Top. In what feels like a call back to his early work, “DeAnn’s Denim” is yet another touching tribute to his late mother, which not only serves as a remembrance of her but also as a reflection on his newfound sobriety and his family’s history of addiction. “Skin,” in particular, is easily one of Bryan’s best songs to date. While he’s never been one to shy away from dark themes, highlighted best on tracks like “Anita Pt.2,” “Half Grown” and murder ballads such as “Birmingham” and “Crooked Teeth,” “Skin” ups the ante. Being one of the most visceral breakup songs I’ve heard in quite a while, the 29-year-old singer/songwriter brutally depicts the aftermath of a breakup. Using tattoos as a metaphor for all the past memories with his former lover, Bryan, quite morbidly, states how he’s taking a blade to remove his very own tattoos — and by extension, all the pain she left him with. “I’m taking a blade to my old tattoos I’m draining the blood between me and you I’m taking a blade to my own skin And I ain’t never touching yours again” I feel like it would simply be remiss not to mention the giant elephant in the room (or album, if you will) that is “Bad News.” As mentioned previously, this song caused nothing short of a media firestorm, receiving backlash from both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the White House itself, upon being teased since Bryan sings, “ICE is gonna come, bust down your door” in the first verse. Regardless of your political beliefs or thoughts on ICE and their current tactics as of late, you cannot deny that discussions surrounding both the organization and, on a larger scale, the current state of the country, are ripe for both debate and further commentary through art. And given the current situation unfolding in Minneapolis right now, Despite many labeling the song as an anti-American anthem, “Bad News” is far from it. In fact, I’d go as far as to say it reflects how many of us are feeling right now. In many ways, the country feels far from what many imagine it to be as of late — and Bryan depicts this perfectly here. The second verse, in particular, brilliantly captures the current state of division and violence we’re currently experiencing while also touching on the feeling of rejection, given that he’s a former member of the Navy. “Well, he said, she said, mirrors and smoke Horizon’s turned red and let’s all hope I got some bad news I woke up missing you My friends are all degenerates, but they’re all I’ve got Everyday on the news someone else is shot I got some bad news The fading of the red, white and blue I served eight years just to be told That nobody cares and land’s all sold I got some bad news I woke up missing you” Ultimately, With Heaven On Top is yet another stellar effort from Bryan. You can love or hate everything surrounding him as an artist and person these days; however, his knack for capturing a moment in time so beautifully is something that simply cannot be denied. Like nearly all of his projects since signing to Warner, you can argue the album is a bit too long, but that’s what you’re going to get with the Oklahoma native. Like real life, it’s a bit messy. However, it’s authentic and most importantly, relatable. The jury’s still out on the album as a whole, given that it just released today. With that being said, I see this album having a lot of staying power. It most likely won’t reach the mammoth heights of American Heartbreak, but I see it being ranked among his best projects after the dust settles. Before you go, fire up some early standouts. “Plastic Cigarette” “Say Why” “Skin” Zach Bryan Tour Dates March 7 – St. Louis, Missouri – The Dome at America’s Super Center – Caamp & J.R. Carroll March 14 – Tampa, Florida – Raymond James Stadium – Caamp & J.R. Carroll March 21 – San Antonio, Texas – The Alamodome – Caamp & J.R. Carroll March 28 – Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Tiger Stadium – Caamp & J.R. Carroll April 3 – Tulsa, Oklahoma – H.A. Chapman Stadium – Trampled By Turtles & J.R. Carroll April 4 – Tulsa, Oklahoma – H.A. Chapman Stadium – Trampled By Turtles & J.R. Carroll April 11 – Louisville, Kentucky – L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium – Kings of Leon & J.R. Carroll April 18 – Charlotte, North Carolina – Bank of America Stadium – Caamp & J.R. Carroll April 25 – Lincoln, Nebraska – Memorial Stadium – Kings of Leon & J.R. Carroll May 2 – Starkville, Mississippi – Davis Wade Stadium – Dijon & J.R. Carroll May 9 – Cleveland, Ohio – Huntington Bank Field – Dijon & J.R. Carroll May 27 – San Sebastian, Spain – Donostia Arena- Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara May 31 – Berlin, Germany – Waldbühne – Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara June 3 – Oslo, Norway – Unity Arena – Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara June 6 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Parken – Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara June 9 – Eindhoven, Netherlands – Philips Stadium – Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara June 12 – Liverpool, United Kingdom – Anfield Stadium – Dijon & Fey Fili June 14 – Edinburgh, United Kingdom – Scottish Gas Murrayfield – Dijon & Fey Fili June 16 – London, United Kingdom – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – Dijon & Fey Fili June 17 – London, United Kingdom – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – Dijon & Fey Fili June 20 – Cork, Ireland – Páirc Úi Chaoimh – Dijon & Fey Fili June 21 – Cork, Ireland – Páirc Úi Chaoimh – Dijon & Fey Fili June 23 – Belfast, Northern Ireland – Boucher Playing Fields – Dijon & Fey Fili June 24 – Belfast, Northern Ireland – Boucher Playing Fields – Dijon & Fey Fili July 24 – Eugene, Oregon – Autzen Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili  July 31 – San Diego, California – Snapdragon Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili August 1 – San Diego, California – Snapdragon Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili August 7 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Rice-Eccles Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili August 13 – Denver, Colorado – Empower Field at Mile High – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili August 14 – Denver, Colorado – Empower Field at Mile High – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili August 22 – Arlington, Texas – AT&T Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili September 5 – Glendale, Arizona – State Farm Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili September 18 – Dover, Delaware – The Woodlands – Kings of Leon, Fey Fili & Gabriella Rose September 19 – Dover, Delaware – The Woodlands – Alabama Shakes, Fey Fili & Gabriella Rose September 21 – Toronto, Ontario – Rogers Center – Trampled By Turtles & Gabriella Rose September 22 – Toronto, Ontario – Rogers Center – Trampled By Turtles & Gabriella Rose October 2 – Foxborough, Massachusetts – Gillette Stadium – Gregory Alan Isakov & Gabriella Rose October 3 – Foxborough, Massachusetts – Gillette Stadium – Gregory Alan Isakov & Gabriella Rose October 10 – Auburn, Alabama – Jordan-Hare Stadium – Gregory Alan Iskov & Gabriella RoseThe post Zach Bryan Delivers Another Stellar Effort With His Sprawling, 25-Track Record, “With Heaven On Top” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.