“Black Sugar” by Pick Up Goliath Explores the Reality of Addiction

Addiction is something that’s difficult to deal with, but sometimes is it that people can’t stop or they just don’t have options? So lemme ask, do you ever find yourself going back to a bad habit just because it’s easier than trying something new, or are you one of those people who actually has their life together?

But the thing is sometimes you really don’t wanna be in such situations, but the thought of replacing whatever you have is what keeps people still in there. Cos they begin to ask, what’s the change gonna be like? How’s it gonna feel, how will I cope, all these contributes to why people can’t just forgo bad habits. But don’t worry, cos this song I’m about to talk about is definitely for the rest of us.

So if you are looking for music that actually has something to say about the messy parts of life, you need to check out Pick Up Goliath. This is the project of Sam George, a guy who clearly knows his way around a studio. He’s worked with big names and even taught at the BRIT School, but his own music is where things get really interesting.

His new single is called “Black Sugar,” and it’s the second part of a bigger project called Salt & Static. While his older stuff felt like big, epic symphonies or video game collaborations, this new era is way more personal. He’s diving into men’s mental health, something that a lot of people don’t really seem bothered about, we all think men are strong, and therefore they can beat any situation out there, so sometimes they are left to deal with all the sh!t they going through alone and sometimes they can’t even speak up! I love how he doesn’t make it seem like a lecture, but like a real conversation.

The track “Black Sugar” specifically looks at addiction. You know, when you’re addicted to something, you definitely know this is bad for you, but yet you yearn for it like that’s all you got. That weird feeling, knowing very well a habit or a substance is destructive yet, you find yourself being pulled to it just because it feels familiar. I love how Sam describes it as a contradiction, and you can really hear that tension in the music.

The sound is a wild mix. Imagine heavy metalcore aggression hitting a wall of 80s-style synth textures and big, cinematic atmospheres. It’s got these massive melodic hooks that get stuck in your head, but the underlying music feels a bit unstable and dark. It isn’t just “noise” for the sake of being loud; every heavy part feels like it’s trying to punch through a layer of fog. It creates this atmosphere of you battling with whatever addiction you’re battling, like you keep going and trying to stop but it feels like you’re fighting a ghost you can’t defeat. It’s a powerful noisy track that pushes you to keep going.

The thing is, you’d realize how smooth and cohesive the track feels, and that’s because Sam does everything himself—writing, playing every instrument, and producing it at his own studio in Spain. It’s polished because he’s a pro, but it’s raw because he’s talking about stuff that was hard for him to even admit out loud.

If you like bands that blend electronics with heavy guitars and actually care about the story they are telling, “Black Sugar” is a must-listen. It’s heavy, it’s honest, and it’s a bit hypnotic. It basically pulls you under, but in a way that makes you want to stay there for a minute and think.

Enjoy More From Pick Up Goliath here;

Web Tiktok Instagram