South Wales’ hardest-gigging folk-rock six-piece Rusty Shackle are back, boots dusty and arrows drawn. Their brand-new single “Your Arrows” is out now via Get Folked Records — and it’s the kind of cinematic, swaggering statement of intent that demands you turn it up loud and pick a side.

Released on May 8th, “Your Arrows” is the first taste of the band’s forthcoming sixth studio album, “Mayfield,” which the Caldicot crew will officially unveil at a hometown spectacular at Caldicot Castle on Saturday, August 29th, joined by special guests Taff Rapids, Tom Jenkins and Ernie Emmanuel. If the single is anything to go by, that show is going to be one for the history books.

Lyrically, “Your Arrows” is a defiant anthem about choosing your own path. Drawing on the dust-blown imagery of the American Western, the track reframes the classic showdown as a modern inner battle between self-doubt and belief. There’s a vivid, time-bending narrative running through it, but it’s the rallying battle-cry chorus that does the heavy lifting — capturing that crystal-clear moment when true intentions are revealed and you find the steel in your spine to stand up for what you believe in.

Musically, the band lean into a bluesy stomp that owes more than a passing nod to the swagger of Led Zeppelin. It kicks off with a punchy, instantly recognisable drum intro from George Barrell that propels the whole thing forward like a runaway stagecoach. From there, the dynamic interplay between Baz Barwick’s guitar and Scott McKeon’s fiddle gives the song texture and lift, while Liam Collins’ soaring lead vocal melodies bring a wide, defiant sense of scale. The clincher? Gang vocals from all six members of Rusty Shackle, lending the whole thing the kind of raw, anthemic edge that’s tailor-made for muddy festival fields and sweaty pub backrooms alike.

It’s the sound of a band entirely sure of what they want to say — and how they want to say it.

Formed in 2010, Rusty Shackle have spent over a decade earning their stripes through relentless touring, infectious live energy, and a genre-blurring sound that pulls from folk, rock, and indie roots. Their 2022 album “Under a Bloodshot Moon” hit number 2 in the UK Folk Albums Chart, and in 2023 they took home the Wales’ Folk Favourites prize at the Wales Folk Awards — a fitting nod to the deep connection they’ve forged with audiences across the UK and beyond.

With “Your Arrows” leading the charge and “Mayfield” looming on the horizon, this looks set to be Rusty Shackle’s biggest year yet. Stream the single, mark your calendar for Caldicot Castle, and catch them on the road across the UK this summer at festivals including Priddy Folk Festival, Trowbridge, Chickenstock, Bunkfest and more.

Stream “Your Arrows” on Spotify now: https://open.spotify.com/album/4bnRAIGPByvPuHdCOj7e3g

Take aim. Pick your path. Let the arrows fly.