7/10

On their second studio album 'Daughters', Mattock continue to refine a sound rooted in Americana but shaped by decades of experience across punk clubs, indie venues, folk circles and classic rock traditions. The Southern Maryland group approach songwriting with a clear sense of patience and restraint, allowing the record’s emotional weight to emerge gradually rather than forcing grand statements.

Recorded across a collection of home studios and personal recording spaces, 'Daughters' carries an unvarnished warmth that suits the material well. Drums tracked at Jason Fletcher’s home provide the foundation, while contributions from Casey Brandt, Jason Gambrell, John Ranta and Jay St. Peter slowly build the songs outward in a way that feels collaborative throughout.

Stylistically, 'Daughters' moves comfortably between folk-rock, roots music and more expansive indie-rock textures. Some tracks lean into hypnotic grooves and understated melody, while others open into broader, guitar-driven passages that hint at the members’ background in alternative and punk scenes. The transitions rarely feel abrupt, allowing different influences to coexist naturally within the same emotional space.

What stands out most across the record is the songwriting itself. There is a mature sense of perspective running through these songs, shaped by musicians who are no longer trying to prove themselves through volume or complexity alone. Instead, 'Daughters' succeeds through carefully layered instrumentation, reflective lyricism and arrangements that trust us enough to unfold slowly.

'Daughters' is not an album built around instant hooks or dramatic reinvention. What Mattock have created is a thoughtful, carefully constructed record that values authenticity, chemistry and songwriting above all else; qualities that increasingly feel rare within modern Americana and indie-rock alike.