Some musicians disappear for a while and return with a song. Robin Ross has taken a different route. After more than three decades of writing, recording and producing, he has built an entire creative life around his music, from the New Jersey and New York scenes of the late 1980s to his current base at Baa Baa Leaf Music in Milford, Pennsylvania. Along the way, he has released numerous albums and developed several recording spaces, making the studio itself an important part of his creative world.
Ross’s history reaches back to the early 1990s, when he co-founded Laughing Jack, later renamed Jack’s Maze. The group developed a progressive rock sound with an expansive character influenced by bands such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. After stepping away from music for a period while pursuing a career as an energy engineer, Ross returned to his musical work in 2021, building Baa Baa Leaf Music and reviving Jack’s Maze. The band is now preparing to release its new album, “Once in a Blue Moon”, expected this autumn.
Ross has also remained active under other names. Earlier this year, Robin Ross & The Melodynes released their second album, “Mind Space”, exploring a mixture of indie and classic-rock sounds. More recently came “All I Want (Is A Lover)”, a bright flower-power pop song that was featured in the Apple TV+ and Peacock series “Margo’s Got Money Troubles”. His Robin Ross & The TW Howlers project also released the “Back To The Forest” EP in 2025.
Against that backdrop, “Blood Lines” takes Ross in a distinctly heavier direction. Featuring vocalist Carmine Gontz, the song is built around guitars, bass and drums and has a darker, more deliberate character than Ross’s recent pop-oriented material.
The guitars are central to the track, but what stands out is the musicianship rather than sheer volume. The playing combines weight with melody, and the arrangement gives the guitar parts enough space to develop without turning the recording into a wall of sound. There is a classic hard-rock sensibility here that brings Whitesnake to mind, particularly in the way melodic guitar work sits alongside a substantial rock foundation. Some of the darker coloring also recalls Ozzy Osbourne’s solo work.
Those comparisons are reference points rather than descriptions of imitation. Ross has spent enough time around rock music to understand that a good guitar part does not need to be overloaded with technique. The strongest moments in “Blood Lines” come from phrases that serve the song, with the musicians allowing the riffs and melodies to establish themselves before moving on.
Carmine Gontz is well suited to that approach. His voice has a dark, dramatic quality that gives the track much of its personality. There is a theatrical edge to his delivery, but he never seems determined to overpower the instrumental arrangement. Instead, his vocal works naturally with the guitars, adding another layer to the atmosphere.
The song’s subject gives it an unexpected emotional dimension. “Blood Lines” considers family, mortality and the passage of one generation into another. A new life begins while another comes to an end, and the connection between generations continues. Ross takes a universal idea and places it inside a heavier musical setting, allowing the emotional content to emerge without turning the song into a sentimental ballad.
The rhythm section provides a firm foundation, while the production keeps the various elements distinct. Ross produced and mixed the recording at Baa Baa Leaf Music Studio in Milford, Pennsylvania, working alongside master engineer Jonathan Duckett. The result has enough space for the individual instruments to retain their character, which is particularly important in a song where the guitar work carries so much of the musical identity.
What makes “Blood Lines” especially interesting within Ross’s current work is how clearly it occupies its own territory. “Mind Space” moves through a broader indie and classic-rock landscape, “All I Want (Is A Lover)” takes a much lighter pop approach, and “Back To The Forest” represents another chapter in his recent output. “Blood Lines” brings the focus back toward the heavier side of his musical personality.
There is no attempt to reinvent hard rock here, and that is perfectly fine. Ross is working with a musical language that has served him for decades, while Gontz brings a fresh vocal presence to it. The combination of strong guitar work, melody, atmosphere and a thoughtful subject gives the song enough substance to stand on its own.
With Jack’s Maze preparing to return with “Once in a Blue Moon”, “Blood Lines” feels like another piece of a much larger musical story. Ross has spent more than thirty years moving between projects, styles and roles, but the guitar-driven side of his work remains very much alive.
For listeners who still care about guitar tone, melody and musicianship, “Blood Lines” is a rewarding listen. It respects the traditions of hard rock without becoming trapped by them, and it demonstrates that after all these years, Robin Ross still has more music to make.
Robin Ross on the net – Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
Carmine Gontz on the net – Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
