ANKH TV

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A Hard-Hitting Cut from Tusk II

“Reflection” lands as one of the standout punches from Tusk II, presenting Royal Tusk in full, unvarnished form. It is a tight, riff-forward hard rock track built for volume, hinging on heavy guitars, a driving rhythm section, and a vocal that aims straight for the chest. The song carries the live-wire intensity that has become a signature of the band’s modern era, channeling a classic hard rock backbone through a contemporary production lens.

Sound, Structure and Performance

Musically, “Reflection” leans into thick, saturated guitars with a crisp top end that keeps the edges sharp. The groove is muscular but nimble, propelled by drums that hit hard on the downbeat while leaving space for the bass to flex in the midrange. Rather than burying the chorus in effects or layers, the arrangement spotlights a hook that gains its power from momentum and phrasing. Guitars lock into punchy, percussive patterns during the verses, then open into broader, sustained chords as the refrain lifts. It is a design that rewards both precision and impact.

The vocal approach favors clarity and grit in equal measure. There is a deliberate balance between tuneful lines and a rawer, urgent delivery, the kind that feels indebted to alt- and post-grunge while remaining tethered to hard rock fundamentals. Harmonies, when they appear, are sparing and strategic, used to widen the refrain rather than to sweeten it. The result is a sound that carries arena-sized ambition without losing the immediacy of a club-stage performance.

Lyrical Undercurrent

As its title implies, “Reflection” turns on ideas of self-scrutiny and consequence. The writing circles themes of personal reckoning, the push-pull between impulse and accountability, and the quiet audit that follows when the noise fades. It is not a confessional ballad, but a charged inventory taken in motion, where the beat keeps pushing forward while the narrator takes stock. The language is direct and emotionally legible, more blunt instrument than cryptogram, matching the music’s no-frills punch.

On-Screen Energy: The “Reflection” Video

The accompanying video for “Reflection,” directed and produced by Keenan Kirk at Kid Pixel with Daniel Carierre as co-producer, is performance-driven and tightly edited. The visual approach foregrounds the band’s physicality: emphatic downstrokes, stick shots that register like exclamation points, and a front-and-center vocal presence. High-contrast lighting and quick cuts accentuate the track’s cadence, while camera movement stays close to the action, mirroring the song’s forward thrust. It is the kind of clip that favors sweat and kinetic framing over elaborate narrative, translating studio weight into on-screen immediacy.

In the Flow of Tusk II

Within the arc of Tusk II, “Reflection” functions as a distillation of the album’s core language. The record prioritizes heft and propulsion, rooting modern hard rock in tangible, amp-forward sonics. Songs are structured to hit quickly and decisively, with choruses that arrive on time and stick. “Reflection” embodies that discipline. It is succinct without feeling slight, and it carries a through-line of tension and release that resonates across the album: tight verse mechanics, a pressurized pre-chorus, then a chorus that broadens the frame without losing bite.

Production choices across this era favor impact and clarity. Guitars are layered to create width, but individual parts remain discernible. Drums sit upfront, recorded with the kind of punch that suits both radio and the stage, and the low end is tuned to give the riffs ballast rather than blur. In that context, “Reflection” reads like a statement of intent, reaffirming the band’s commitment to songs that move bodies first and linger in the head after.

On the Road with Like A Storm (2019)

To support the momentum around the single and Tusk II, Royal Tusk joined Like A Storm for a run of U.S. dates in early 2019. The itinerary leaned into intimate rooms and mid-sized halls, spaces where the band’s high-voltage sets thrive at close range. The tour moved coast to coast, including several House of Blues rooms and trusted rock rooms across major markets.

• Wed. January 23 – Anaheim, CA – The Parish at House of Blues
• Thurs. January 24 – Sacramento, CA – Holy Diver
• Fri. January 25 – San Diego, CA – Voodoo Room at House of Blues
• Sun. January 27 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
• Tues. January 29 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
• Fri. February 1 – Dallas, TX – Cambridge Room at House of Blues
• Sat. February 2 – Houston, TX – Bronze Peacock at House of Blues
• Mon. February 4 – New Orleans, LA – The Parish at House of Blues
• Fri. February 8 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry at The Fillmore Philadelphia
• Sat. February 9 – Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
• Sun. February 10 – Asbury Park, NJ – Wonder Bar
• Tues. February 12 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
• Fri. February 15 – Pittsburgh, PA – Smiling Moose
• Sat. February 16 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
• Sun. February 17 – Cleveland, OH – The Cambridge Room at House of Blues
• Mon. February 18 – Detroit, MI – The Shelter
• Wed. February 20 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Stache
• Thurs. February 21 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
• Fri. February 22 – St. Paul, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall

Credits

Music video by Royal Tusk performing “Reflection.” Directed and produced by Keenan Kirk at Kid Pixel. Co-producer: Daniel Carierre. © 2019 Entertainment One Limited Partnership d/b/a eOne Music Canada.

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