Scott,

First off, glad to see you’re back in the saddle. After a respiratory infection that stole your pipes and a rotator cuff surgery that turned your guitar playing into a contact sport, I’d say 'Halfway to Handsome' is a hell of a comeback. It sounds like you’ve been through the ringer, but clearly, your creative instincts are still firing on all cylinders—or, more appropriately, all power chords.

You’re always reinventing the wheel with your songwriting, and stepping into the Metal arena is a genuinely bold move but it pays off. While a lot of bands seem to think 'Metal' is just a contest to see who can make an electric guitar sound like a malfunctioning jackhammer, you actually remembered to bring the melody along for the ride.

Your voice is coming through with a killer Ozzy-meets-Dio vibe that really suits the track. It’s got that signature Black Sabbath weight to it that hits harder the more you spin it.

Regarding this 'metaphorical roofie' song—Ginger Cooper sounds like she’d be a nightmare to date, but she’s certainly a great muse for a track that gets stuck in your head like a ransom note.
And don't worry about the 'stolen' lyrics from Galway Girl; consider it a homage, not a heist.

Don’t be in such a rush to redo those verses; they’ve got just the right amount of grit to keep things authentic. Seriously cool work man.

Get that shoulder healed up, ignore the doctors who tell you to 'behave,' and keep the tunes coming.

Cheers,

Izzy

https://soundcloud.com/search?q=izzy%20seriass