There’s something refreshingly no-frills about PJD, a one-man operation out of Birmingham who’s done the rounds as a session guitarist before deciding to go fully solo, handling everything from writing to production himself. That DIY spirit runs straight through “On New Horizons,” the debut single from A New Religion, a project shaped by lived experiences and driven by a simple but stubborn philosophy: never stand still, never repeat yourself. You can hear echoes of players like Eric Clapton and Gary Moore in the guitar work, but the bigger shadow is David Bowie, that constant push to evolve without losing identity.
“On New Horizons” kicks off with a glimmering rev, almost like an engine turning over, layered with a metallic shimmer that gradually pulls you in. Then the steady, grounded, and unapologetically driving beat drops, while the guitars buzz with a kind of restrained urgency. It feels live, a little rough around the edges in the best way, like you’re standing in the room as it’s happening. When PJD’s thick, gravelly vocals come in, they land heavy, carrying that road-worn texture that suits the song’s restless core.
Lyrically and tonally, the track leans into that universal itch, the need to keep moving, to believe there’s something better just beyond reach. Not in a naïve way, though. There’s an undercurrent suggesting that the “next horizon” might not always deliver, but the hope itself is what keeps the wheels turning. That tension gives the track its backbone.
And that’s really where it sticks: it’s not just about chasing something new, it’s about needing to believe in the chase. As a first taste of A New Religion, “On New Horizons” does exactly what it should—pulls you forward, hooks your curiosity, and leaves you wondering what’s waiting just up ahead.
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Review by: Naomi Joan