By Emily Weir
Published April 25, 2025

Green Diesel return with their fifth album, Onward The Sun!, just released on April 25, 2025—marking over a decade of shaping their distinctive brand of English folk-rock. Rich in folklore, atmosphere, and live-band energy, the new record marks a clear evolution for the Faversham-based six-piece—one that leans into darker themes and heavier sounds while staying rooted in tradition.

The album is built around six new original songs, all of which delve into powerful and often eerie subjects. “Ring The Hill” explores the witch trial of Isabel Gowdy, using fragments of the language attributed to her during the proceedings: “I go to the devil in the devil’s name. I go to the devil and I will return again.” Elsewhere, “Venus Tree” draws on the ancient love legends tied to its namesake. It’s these deep links to old myths and stories that give the album its grounding, but the band’s treatment of the material is anything but nostalgic.

Alongside the new songs, Green Diesel include fresh takes on traditional Morris tunes and a bold cover from The Wicker Man soundtrack. The inclusion of “Maypole” is particularly significant—having once used the track to walk on stage, the band now reinterprets it with full instrumentation and intention. Seen by many as a whimsical tune, it became a creative challenge. The process of building it together reflected how the whole album came together: collectively, through improvisation and jam sessions.

This is also their second collaboration with producer Rob Wilks, a relationship that developed following the loss of their original producer who had been key to their early sound. For this record, capturing a live, raw feel was a priority. Rather than striving for digital perfection, the band focused on authenticity—even if that meant leaving in the occasional slip or looseness in timing. With so many instruments in play, they also worked to resist the temptation of over-layering.

When it comes to performing the new material live, there are both challenges and joys. Some tracks were gig-tested long before they were recorded, while others haven’t yet found their way into sets. The recorded versions may be rich in texture, but on stage the songs are stripped back, offering a different, more intimate kind of energy.

Green Diesel are set to appear at several Kent festivals this summer, including Broadstairs Folk Week, with hopes of an August tour depending on scheduling. After years of exploring different directions, the band say they’ve reached a point where they’re less interested in following trends and more focused on carving their own path. The result is a heavier, more confident sound that embraces the strange, the mythical, and the haunting. 

Onward The Sun! invites listeners to dive deep—whether through headphones, “kicking back and relaxing,” or in the glow of a festival stage.

☞ Preorder your copy now on Bandcamp ☜

(CD & Digital)