Alex Williams became recognised as an one-to-watch outlaw country artist, drawing comparisons to Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson for his signature, cavernous vocal and gritty, go-your-own-way charisma. Now, following his critically-acclaimed major label debut Better Than Myself in 2017 (BMLG), he returns with his long-awaited sophomore record Waging Peace, out October 21 via Lightning Rod Records.

Produced by GRAMMY-winner Ben Fowler and featuring artists like Mickey Raphael on harmonica and Danny Dugmore on pedal steel, Waging Peace is rooted in country tradition and a bold, against-the-grain swagger, accompanied by Williams’ organic twang and retrofuzz. Throughout 12 songs, Williams shares an unseen side of his life and his personal battle between good and evil. Williams introduces the record with ‘No Reservations’, out now.

This lead track represents the first chapter in an album detailing Williams’ rocky journey to finding internal peace. The song opens with a flash of scrappy slide guitar and sets the unglamorous scene of life on the road for a musician bouncing around dingy motels and back-alley bars, and enjoying every minute of it. The “No Reservations” video, which was directed, filmed and edited by Joshua Britt & Neilson Hubbard, and filmed at Waylon’s Bar in Marion, Indiana, echoes this as Williams plays to a biker gang crowd toasting dive bar beers.