Rewind by Ben Rankin: Review

by admin January 13, 2026

January 13, 2026

Canberra-based artist Ben Rankin returns swinging with “Rewind,” a heavy, emotionally charged single that pulls you straight into its stormy headspace. Dropping on January 9, 2026, the track marks the second preview from his upcoming fifth studio album In Memoriam, due later in February, and it feels like a reckoning rather than a teaser. Teaming up with fellow local artist Machine on a Break, Rankin leans into collaboration without losing his grip on control, letting a new perspective sharpen the song’s edges.

“Rewind” opens in industrial, sharp, and atmospheric suspense mode, like tension crackling in the air before a confrontation. Guitars soon swirl and wind tightly, building into a distorted downpour that crashes against thumping, relentless beats. When the noise suddenly pulls back, Rankin steps forward with a numb, reverb-soaked vocal aimed squarely at an ex: “I am sorry that you are stuck to playing games, what a shame.” It’s cold, measured, and devastating in its restraint. As the track progresses, his voice breaks free from the haze, confessing disbelief that she was once his “fate,” before the distortion slams back in, grinding harder and pushing his vocals into a soaring, defiant register.

Midway through, the dynamic shifts again. The female vocalist, Machine on a Break, cuts through with a high, electrifying verse that adds tension and contrast, her voice hovering like a challenge rather than a comfort. When they finally collide on the chorus, it feels earned, with two perspectives locked together, amplifying the themes of closure and refusal.

Influenced by bands like Bring Me The Horizon, Sleep Token, I Prevail, and Asking Alexandria, “Rewind” balances melody with brutality, emotion with force. Recorded DIY in Rankin’s home studio, the track feels intimate despite its scale, a safe space turned battleground. It’s about pushing someone away for good, and it hits with the clarity of someone who’s finally done hitting rewind.