Buzzed & Loaded – Medication Nation (Album)

Buzzed & Loaded – Medication Nation

Release Date: 12^th August 2026||Genre: Hard Rock||Label: Bootstrap Records

Delivering another cold pint of classic hard rock, homage and humour!

With their third studio album, Medication Nation, hard rock trio Buzzed & Loaded continue flying the flag for classic rock, earning a third consecutive Rock Album of the Year nomination at the Josie Music Awards in the process. Strutting the turntable, with a fistful of hooks, the Seattle-based outfit celebrate timeless influences, such as Ted Nugent, KISS, and Alice Cooper, with a larger-than-life, tongue in cheek attitude. Whilst rarely venturing into new territory within the genre, there’s an undeniable modern homage and nostalgic passion to the affair.

Opening track Loaded I’m The Gun, wastes little time in reigniting the old-school vibes and establishing a no-nonsense, DIY approach – there’s no bragging or clever trickery here – it just feels like three good blokes having fun with the stuff they grew up on! Whilst title track, Medication Nation, packs a chorus that feels destined to be bellowed back by audiences, balancing sharp social commentary with the band’s irreverent sense of humour, tackling prescription culture without losing the lad’s playful edge.

“In a world that has a pill for everything we have a band that has tried every pill for you. Welcome to the dangers of Medication Nation.”

The album won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, certainly not for those that lean toward the extreme – this is a chamomile cuppa – but it does the job for a post-BBQ, slumbering Sunday in the garden.

Buzz Brown and Andy Claus’ rhythm section reverbs around these Angus glens, drawing Mørk the Corpse Paint Cat back indoors, and wondering what’s going on, (seems to have his seal of approval though). Rob Trosino’s strings provide a dependable backbone throughout, yet it’s the Rick Derringer-esque riffs that pluck interest as the pace begins to slow in later tracks. The album doesn’t feel over-polished in production either, which, intentionally or not, captures what the band live energy may be like. It came to mind several times, that live might be the best way to experience the record – or maybe I should just grab a cold one and take the gents advice…

“Get ready to raise a glass, turn it up loud, and remember: You will never get a hangover if you stay Buzzed & Loaded!”

C+
AVZD (with notes from Mørk the Corpse Paint Cat)