Tom Woodward Releases Come Come Karma, a Gritty New Goth-Country Chapter
- The Night Temple
- Jan 28
- 2 min read
Australian alt-folk artist and folk-rock pioneer Tom Woodward returns today with Come Come Karma, his seventh studio album and one of his most striking releases to date. The record follows the grunge-tinged lead single “Phoney Messiah” and finds Woodward leaning further into a darker, goth-country sound that feels both expansive and deeply personal.
Available now on all major streaming platforms, Come Come Karma features tracks that express optimism tangoing with nihilism, extremism, and self-grandiose helplessness. Produced by Adam Casey and recorded at True Vine Productions during the summer of 2024, the album effortlessly shifts between baroque folk-rock, lo-fi psychedelia, and country-tinged storytelling. Spanning twelve tracks over just forty-five minutes, the record will resonate with fans of The Felice Brothers, Bob Dylan, and The War on Drugs.
“Phoney Messiah”, the album’s centerpiece, features a haunting video that illustrates a nightmare presented in the form of entertainment, highlighting the song’s critique of false prophets in the digital age. The track has already earned praise from outlets including Honk Magazine and Skope Magazine, signaling early momentum for the release.
Written largely while touring up and down Australia’s east coast, Come Come Karma was shaped vastly by Woodward’s last few years of nomadic travel, building inspiration for the album’s overall concept and themes. Some of which include miscommunication, escapism, and the contradictions of seeking truth in a culture built on noise. With an enviable catalog of songs rooted in lived experience, Woodward continues to refine his voice while pushing his sonic boundaries.
Woodward’s songwriting has led to standout performances at the National Folk Festival and the Multicultural Fringe Festival, as well as support slots for artists such as Abbe May, The Drones, and Mikelangelo & the Black Sea Gentlemen. Beyond accolades, his journey is defined by persistence. A housing crisis pushed him into life on the road, a shift that ultimately propelled him toward full-time musicianship.
With Come Come Karma, Tom Woodward delivers a defining statement, one that encapsulates two decades of songwriting, survival, and relentless creative pursuit.
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