Tyler Childers’ debut album, Purgatory, is a powerful introduction to one of the most compelling voices in modern Americana.

Released in 2017, the album draws heavily from the singer-songwriter’s upbringing in Lawrence County, Kentucky, painting vivid portraits of the people, places, and stories that shaped his life.

Like many great Southern storytellers before him, Childers has a deep connection to his home, and that bond resonates throughout the album’s ten tracks.

Produced by Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson, Purgatory blends country, bluegrass, and folk with a raw, contemporary edge, resulting in a sound that feels both timeless and current.

The album’s title track, as well as songs like “Feathered Indians” and “Whitehouse Road,” are rich in imagery and emotion, capturing the essence of life in rural Appalachia.

The lyrics weave stories of struggle, redemption, love, and vice, mirroring the complexities of the region itself.

The Appalachian Mountains loom large over the album, not just as a setting, but as a character in their own right, lending a sense of ancient history and mysticism to the narrative.

Purgatory establishes Childers as a modern troubadour, telling stories that are as rugged and enduring as the landscape that inspired them.

Track Listings