Defiant is the 21st studio album released by Australian rock band legend Jimmy Barnes. Released on 6 June 2025, Defiant showcases Barnes’ continuous push to fight. After facing severe health issues that required open-heart surgery and a hip replacement, Barnes put his soul into creating a testament that represented his resilience and survival. Playing to his strengths, the album features songs that feel nostalgic for the earlier days of his career, yet encouraging, as a way of pushing personal resilience, love, and legacy towards his audience of loyal listeners. In saying this, though, it is notable that while Defiant showcases Barnes’ undiminished energy and vocal power, it lacks musical innovation. While lacking innovation does not make the album bad, it does lack diversity when compared to his older music and shows a repetitive cycle in Barnes’ songwriting choices, and this could be problematic.
The first song played from the album is “That’s What You Do For Love”, a classic rock track that immediately sets the tone for the album. The song features the full band sound, with heavy guitars and Barnes’ trademark voice, which is reminiscent of his Cold Chisel years. From there, the album explores a mix of rock anthems and reflective ballads. “New Day” showcases a different story with a calmer and hopeful tone, next to “Beyond the River Bend”, which has evoked a more personal and cultural tone with a bagpipe arrangement featured in the track. Following these tunes up is “Never Stop Loving You”, a heartfelt ballad that showcases Barnes’ long-standing themes of devotion and endurance towards his wife and family. Next is the title track “Defiant”, which is filled with determination and power, portraying just how defiant Barnes is. The album closes out with “Sea of Love”, a more soulful tone than the rest of the album. It is reminiscent and is perfect for a closing number. Produced by Kevin Shirley in Nashville and Sydney, the record has been created with a variety of collaborations, featuring Joe Bonamassa’s guitar work, Jason Bonham’s drumming, Jonathan Cain’s piano, and vocal contributions from Barnes’s children, Mahalia and Jackie. When combined as an album, the music tells a story that both celebrates Barnes’ personal journey and reaffirms his rock legacy.
The strengths of Defiant are displayed in its vocal and emotional power. Critics have discussed that Barnes is singing with remarkable strength after dealing with the health struggles from the years prior. His rasp, which has long been considered his defining feature, carries both grit and vulnerability across the entire album, but is especially prevalent on “Never Stop Loving You” and “The Long Road”, tracks where his voice conveys both pain and resilience. In terms of songwriting, the album very clearly discusses Barnes’ personal struggles in a way that is relatable to its listeners. “New Day” talks about rebirth after hardship, while “Beyond The River Bend” tells a story of legacy, mortality and cultural belonging, as a bid for his Scottish heritage. These themes are not new in Barnes’ musical storytelling, but the urgency with which it is being delivered makes the music feel authentic as opposed to formulaic.
Musically, Defiant succeeds as a rock album that is energetic, polished and designed to work in a live setting. Songs like “That’s What You Do For Love” and “Defiant” are set up to be concert highlights with their big riffs and anthemic choruses. The bagpipes featured in “Beyond The River Bend” provide a unique sound when compared to other straightforward rock numbers. Furthermore, the collaborations with world-class musicians elevate the musical arrangements without overshadowing Barnes and the stories behind the songs. The combination of professional production and emotional sincerity explains why the album has resonated so strongly with fans, debuting at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart and extending Barne’s record of 22 chart-topping albums in Australia.
Despite these strengths, Defiant is not without limitations. A criticism pointed out by Bernard Zuel from The Guardian has voiced in his album review, is that the album does not have any innovations. Long-time fans will recognise the familiar album structure that features a dynamic mid-tempo rocker, a heartfelt ballad and a big closing song. While there is stability in using a familiar album structure, it raises the question of whether Barnes is challenging himself artistically and musically. This limitation, however, does not undermine the impact of the album. Barnes is clearly not attempting to reinvent himself but rather maintain his place as a rock leader and survivor. The very act of producing an album with such energy and quality after life-threatening surgeries is itself a defiant statement, even if the music doesn’t push boundaries.
In conclusion, Defiant is an excellent addition to Jimmy Barnes’ discovery, one that highlights his resilience and strength as a person, though displaying his ability to channel personal struggle in emotional and catchy album rock songs. While the album does little to break new ground stylistically, it succeeds in celebrating survival and reaffirming Barnes’ place at the heart of Australian rock. Ultimately, the album’s greatest strength is its unapologetic defiance, driven by a voice that refuses to fade.
Caitlin 
Clara 
Kath Smart