Alex Williams Ditches Hair-Metal Covers for Twangy New EP 'Discount Country'

Alex Williams is heading back to his outlaw country roots. The gritty singer-songwriter, who spent last year covering hair-metal hits on the album 'Space Brain,' will release a new EP titled 'Discount Country' this Friday, according to reports from both Rolling Stone and musicianvoice.com.

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musicianvoice.comAlex Williams Returns to Outlaw Country on New ‘Discount Country’ EPRolling StoneAlex Williams Returns to Outlaw Country Roots with New EP 'Discount Country' After Hair-Metal Detour

"returns to his roots with the upcoming EP 'Discount Country' after a hair-metal detour with last year's 'Space Brain' album." The five-track collection leans heavily into twang, marking a deliberate shift away from the glam-metal detour. Williams' career has swung between styles since his 2016 debut, but this EP appears to solidify his place in the outlaw tradition.

"the gritty singer-songwriter embraces the twang on Discount Country" The outlet noted that the EP features outlaw-leaning songs, suggesting a return to the sound that first earned Williams a following in the Texas country scene. Both reports highlight the contrast between last year's cover project and the new material.

Rolling Stone, which premiered a track from the EP, described the new songs as "rambling" and firmly rooted in the storytelling style that defined Williams' earlier work. The EP arrives after a period of genre experimentation that saw Williams covering Ratt and Skid Row on 'Space Brain,' a move that surprised some fans.

With 'Discount Country,' Williams appears to be reasserting his identity as an outlaw country artist. The EP's title itself hints at a self-deprecating nod to his place in the genre, offering a stripped-down collection that lets the twang take center stage.