Bruce Mountain Band and “I’m Only Human”: A Defiant Rock Anthem for the Debt-Burdened Soul
There is a raw electricity that surges through Bruce Mountain Band whenever truth, instinct, and amplification collide. Their latest single, “I’m Only Human,” is not merely a song but a clenched fist raised against systems designed to exhaust, control, and quietly consume the human spirit. It is a visceral statement that cuts through complacency with grit, urgency, and unfiltered conviction.
Written by Tyson Bruce, “I’m Only Human” dives headfirst into the deep struggles that define modern existence. From the earliest years of schooling to the grinding routines of adulthood, the song confronts the unspoken reality of a life shaped by rigid rules authored by elites, corporations, and shadow governments. The track frames this reality with brutal clarity, portraying people as rats on a wheel, endlessly spinning to sustain systems that profit from their exhaustion while offering little more than survival in return.
The song’s lyrical spine is unapologetically direct. Lines such as “Just getting by is a struggle in life,” “When it costs so much I can’t decide,” and the chilling refrain “Life is debt until you die” articulate a shared frustration that many feel but few articulate so boldly. These words do not posture or dramatize. They state. They accuse. They resonate. At its core, “I’m Only Human” is a reminder that people were never meant to be defined by credit scores, crushed by financial strain, or conditioned to accept perpetual scarcity as normal.
Musically, the track surges forward with muscular intent. Powerful guitar riffs drive the song’s backbone, thick with classic rock attitude and modern urgency. Rumbling basslines ground the arrangement, giving the song weight and physical presence, while the drums push relentlessly, echoing the constant pressure of daily survival. The anthemic vocals soar above it all, delivering the chorus like a declaration of self worth rather than surrender. When Shon Lawhon sings, “I’m Only Human try to live my life the best I can,” it lands as both confession and battle cry.
The expansive arrangement captures everything that makes rock n’ roll timeless. It is loud, emotional, and unafraid to confront uncomfortable truths. There is a lived-in authenticity here that cannot be manufactured. This is music born from experience, frustration, and a refusal to remain silent.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Bruce Mountain Studios in Corona CA, USA in December 2025, the production strikes a careful balance between polish and rawness. Bob Moon, who produced and engineered the track, allows the song to breathe while preserving its grit. Nothing feels overprocessed or restrained. Instead, the sound feels immediate, as if the band is playing directly in front of you, demanding attention rather than requesting it.
Vocally, the performances are commanding. Shon Lawhon delivers the lead with conviction and vulnerability, while Tyson Bruce provides backing vocals that reinforce the song’s emotional core. Together, they give the track a communal feel, as if multiple voices are standing together against the same invisible weight.
The creative philosophy behind Bruce Mountain Band is as unconventional as it is compelling. Based in Corona CA, the band operates as a fluid collective where members change from song to song. Many tracks are created spontaneously with whoever happens to be in the studio that day. This organic approach injects unpredictability and freshness into every release, ensuring that no two songs feel formulaic or safe.
Bruce Mountain Studios, privately owned by Tyson Bruce and Bob Moon, functions as both a creative hub and an open door. The studio has hosted hundreds of unique musicians across countless genres, all assembled based on availability and instinct rather than rigid planning. This environment fuels experimentation and honesty, qualities that pulse through “I’m Only Human.”
The band’s journey has been long and uncompromising. Under the Bruce Mountain Band name, they have already released “Another Day Lost” and “Covid 19 Quarantine.” Before adopting their current identity, they issued two full-length albums under different names, “Buffalo Chrome” in 2008 and “Will Of The Flesh” in 2015. Each chapter reflects evolution rather than reinvention, with a consistent dedication to authenticity and fearless expression.
Currently, Bruce Mountain Band is releasing a series of singles that will eventually be compiled into one full-length album. If “I’m Only Human” is any indication, that future record will not shy away from confrontation. It will challenge listeners to reflect, resist, and reclaim their humanity in a world increasingly designed to strip it away.
This single stands as a defiant anthem for anyone wrestling with life’s unrelenting pressures. It speaks to the exhausted, the indebted, and the disillusioned, while offering something equally powerful in return: solidarity. “I’m Only Human” does not promise easy answers, but it does something far more important. It reminds us that our struggle is real, our anger is valid, and our humanity is worth fighting for.
