Album review – Wes Bayliss’ “On My Way Home”

Y’all probably know Wes Bayliss as the cofounder and frontman of The Steel Woods, that was one of the most brilliant southern rock bands of our century. The Alabama native artist released his solo debut LP album, “On My Way Home“, on July 24th, via Circle B records and Thirty Tigers.

Bayliss learnt to play music in his family’s gospel band, and gospel music is undoubtedly a genre that influenced him a lot. But beyond gospel and southern rock, “On My Way Home“, an album that Bayliss wrote and produced, is also a christian rock album, with all of its songs inspired by the Bible, and profound lyrics that amply refer to his christian faith. It puts this record in the same vein as two albums recently released, Charles Wesley Godwin’s “Christian Name” and the Red Clay Strays’ “Grateful“.

As Bayliss said, “I learnt a lot that no amount of money or success or fame could ever compare to the peace and the joy that comes with being obedient to God and having a relationship, a real relationship with the God that created you“.

That said, “On my Way Home” is a beautiful record, excellently written and produced, with a lot of songs that remind us the musical style of the Steel Woods.

Among them, two songs are familiar, as they were released in 2025: the beautiful “Product of Grace” and “The Mustang“, cowritten with Cody Johnson, with wonderful lyrics.

“I was finally tired of running wild across those lonely plains

I surrendered all I had and let the Master take the reins”

The Mustang

Among the most beautiful songs on this album are the title track, a splendid song that perfectly enhances Wayliss’ powerful voice, and the excellent “Look That Way“, a rock and roll song that reminds us the Steel Woods’ music.

“There’s no Road“, “Dig In” and “Why Didn’t You Tell Me” are also brilliant songs.

The album also includes two covers. The first one is a brilliant version of “The Outlaw“, a song of Larry Norman, Texan pionner of christian rock music, from his 1972 album, “Only Visiting The Planet“. The second one is a very interesting cover of “There is a fountain filled with blood“, a christian hymn written by William Cowper. Bayliss did a fantastic job, making a splendid rock and roll version of an hymn written by an English poet in the 18th century.

With “On My Way Home“, Wes Bayliss wrote a powerful, honest and personal album, wonderfully written and produced, full of southern and christian rock, with profound songwriting. A brilliant record!

Nicolas Davelu