Cole Chaney’s Sophomore Record ‘In The Shadow Of The Mountain’ Is As Good As It Gets

Cole Chaney, ladies and gentlemen.

Kentucky’s finest is back and better than ever with his long awaited and heavily anticipated sophomore record In The Shadow of the Mountain, and it is an incredible project that warrants drop what you’re doing and listen to it all the way through attention.

From the instrumental first track “Into” that sets the tone sonically, to the country-grunge closer “Alone?,” Chaney’s brand new 9-track project lives up to the expectation that it would be one of the best country albums of the year so far. Steeped in the rich history of Kentucky’s country music scene and flavored with Chaney’s grunge rock influences, which mostly surfaces in his gritty vocal delivery, In The Shadow of the Mountain is a sonic and lyrical masterpiece that builds upon the strong foundation he has built thus far in his young career.

Practically unknown outside of his local scene at the time, Chaney burst onto the national stage unexpectedly with the release of his acclaimed debut record Mercy in 2021. Capitalizing on the rapid momentum of the Appalachian scene, Chaney’s debut was full of deftly penned stories that juxtaposed the beauty and struggle of life in rural Kentucky, providing a vivid look into the complicated nature of the pride he and so many other artists take in hailing from his home state.

Now, with his second effort hitting streaming platforms four years later, it is clear that Chaney has made strides in his already impressive songwriting, and he has taken a leap sonically as well with a much bigger, full band sound than we heard in his largely acoustic and stripped-back debut. In many ways, he has picked up right where he left off, though, as his latest release continues to shine a light on what life is like for many in Appalachia. The record’s title track “In The Shadow of the Mountain” is a perfect example, encapsulating the ethos of the album in just the first few verses.

Expressing an inherent sense of pride in his home state with the first verse of the whole album, Chaney sings:

“Where the ridges roll high and the valleys swing low
In the shadow of the mountain, ‘neath the Kentucky coal
Where my kinfolk lie and the river cuts deep
In the shadow of the mountain, won’t you bury me?”

And shortly thereafter, in the third verse, he touches on a difficult reality that historically has come with the territory for many of Appalachia’s own over the years.

“I was barely a boy when the devil crept in
First he took my pa and then he took my friends
Be it by way of a pill or by way of a mine
There were many good soul would be relieved of their life”

From “In the Shadow of the Mountain” on, Chaney’s brand new album weaves seamlessly through tales of Appalachian life, and whether they are personal, observed, or just loosely based on tall tales and legends, each song evokes a sense of wonder and emotion that few artists are capable of capturing.

Produced by Duane Lundy, the Grammy nominated producer best known for his work with Sturgill Simpson, Ringo Starr, and The Lumineers, among others, Chaney surrounded himself with plenty of other talented musicians, and it shows in the depth of the sound that bolsters his uniquely gritty vocal delivery throughout the album.

Chaney began rolling out new music with the album’s lead single “Alone?” back in May, and continued to release “The Unsatisfied” and “Let the Love Die” as the summer dragged on and anticipation intensified. Moreover, three songs on this record were previously included in 2022’s OurVinyl Sessions, his sole release since Mercy, but these new album versions take on a different life with the full band sound.

So, without further ado, give Cole Chaney’s latest masterpiece In the Shadow of the Mountain a listen for yourself.

In the Shadow of the Mountain Tracklist:

“Into”

“In the Shadow of the Mountain”

“Grind”

“Spirit”

“The Unsatisfied”

“Charlene”

“Let Love Die”

“Feels Like Rain”

“Alone?”

Man, what a record. Hopefully we don’t have to wait 4+ years for a third record. But if we do, I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait, just as In the Shadow of the Mountain was. In the meantime, though, Chaney is touring heavily this fall, and there’s a high likelihood he’s bringing the new tunes to a venue near you. Check out his upcoming tour dates here:

Cole Chaney Tour Dates

Thursday, October 2, 2025- Knoxville, TN
Friday, October 3, 2025- Atlanta, GA
Saturday, October 4, 2025- Greenville, SC
Monday, October 6, 2025- Charlotte, NC
Tuesday, October 7, 2025- Charlottesville, VA
Thursday, October 9, 2025- Washington, D.C.
Friday, October 10, 2025- Wayne, PA
Saturday, October 11, 2025- New York City, NY
Monday, October 13, 2025- Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, October 14, 2025- Cleveland, OH
Wednesday, October 15, 2025- Ann Arbor, MI
Friday, October 17, 2025- Lexington, KY
Monday, October 20, 2025- Wisconsin Dells, WI
Tuesday, October 21, 2025- Minneapolis, MN
Wednesday, October 22, 2025- Des Moines, IA
Friday, October 24, 2025- Denver, CO
Monday, October 27, 2025- Austin, TX
Tuesday, October 28, 2025- Houston, TX
Wednesday, October 29, 2025- Ft. Worth, TX
Thursday, October 30, 2025- Oklahoma City, OK
Saturday, November 1, 2025- Kansas City, MO
Sunday, November 2, 2025- Fayetteville, ARThe post Cole Chaney’s Sophomore Record ‘In The Shadow Of The Mountain’ Is As Good As It Gets first appeared on Whiskey Riff.