Nate Parrish: “Make Me A Mountain” Album Review

There’s a specific kind of album made for open highways and rolled-down windows, and Nate Parrish has captured it perfectly with Make Me A Mountain.. Wondering why Nate looks so familiar? You might remember him as the guitarist from Kutless. While Kutless was on hiatus, he decided to venture out on a solo path with his first release, I’m A Wreck in 2020. Since then, he released two more albums including the most recent, Make Me A Mountain. If you’re missing the old pop punk sounds of MxPx, Sugarcult and others, you need to add this to your list of must haves.

Make Me A Mountain Album Review:

Tracks: 10

Length: 35:50

Release Date: October 17, 2025

Label: Independent Release

The album bursts to life from the very first three-count with the high-octane energy of “You’re Wrong Again.” Offering flashbacks to MxPx and All-American Rejects, it’s a very straight-forward punk song. The chorus is full of hooks and you’ll be singing along in no time! If that song didn’t get you moving, the next one certainly will. “Bad Excuse” opens with a fun, captivating, vocal-heavy intro. The song is filled with high-energy guitar chords and unforgettable lyrics.

“Pardon me, it’s part of my occupation. To do what I’m told by corporations. Manipulate the information.”

The lyrics point out the lies that are perpetrated on a daily basis from people in power. It’s a fun song but serves a point to start calling out the bad excuses.

Nate continues to develop his punk-inspired vocals and the underlying message of his songwriting on “Bad News.” The song features some really good guitar slides and firm bass lines that highlight the straightforward punk sound. Nate’s almost whine-like vocals emphasize how tired he is of hearing bad news. The bridge gives an inspirational tone in the midst of a song focused on the obsession the world has with bad news.

“Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow. For tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid. Do not be dismayed, worship God wherever you go. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be moved. So we can confidently say the Lord is my helper. Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you. I lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where does my help come from? My help is from the Lord; The maker of Heaven and Earth.”

One of the first singles from the album is “That’s Just Life.” I really like the opening; it delivers a classic punk intro with alternating vocals and solid guitar riffs. It’s the kind of song where you’ll definitely find yourself singing along. I appreciate the thought provoking lyrics, which contain honest thoughts and conversations about God. A lot of songs have lyrics that are meaningless, but I prefer tracks that actually start a conversation.

This album has so many different influences and the next song shares some hints of influence from Sugarcult in the vocals and chord progression. “I’m Alright” feels like a song made for summer radio. The vocals are highlighted in this song as Nate shows his ability to go from melody at one moment, into raspy the next, into talk-singing, all with a smooth transition. The driving guitar keeps the beat moving. This song also offers some inspiration with the lyrics,

“Last you saw me, we were struggling to survive. But God was faithful and we’re doing fine…It’s not the way that I want it to be. But I still got everything I could ever need.”

The song is full of energy and gets you moving, while  the lyrics can help point you to the One who will help you through everything.

Nate collaborated with some familiar names on the next two tracks. “Pendulum People” featured Josh Kemble of Dogwood. The song features some rather impressive guitar work that keeps the song lively. Kemble’s voice compliments Nate’s on this song. The next track features a guest appearance from Jason Dunn of Hawk Nelson. “Under the Weather” starts off fast and energetic and reminds me of Blink 182 in the 2000s. It’s great to hear Jason back on a project that returns to his roots. This song has a hook that you can definitely find yourself singing along to.

“Record Store” has a distinct sound that helps it stand out on this album. From the acoustic opening to the bass line taking the spotlight, this song makes you want to grab a skateboard and go skating till the sun goes down. The lyrics of the song seem to serve a nostalgic tone while referring to the old days, and a longing in Nate’s vocals. Often our nostalgia is not for a certain place, but rather a time in our lives when everything seemed to be carefree and the weight of the world hadn’t crushed usy et. This song clings to that mindset.

The majority of this album is fun and energetic, but the last three tracks seem to slow down and take a serious tone. Parrish takes us from the nostalgic “Record Store" to the more vulnerable “Small.” “Small” has an emo flair to the tune, with self-reflective lyrics, complemented by simple guitar riffs and uncomplicated drum beats. The bridge is fun and easy to sing along to with the “ba-da, ba-da” vocal hook. However, the meaning of the song is much deeper. Nate says “I wrote this song feeling utterly overwhelmed by the weight of life, feeling like I needed to carry all of it. I needed to rely on something bigger.”

The album ends with the title track, “Make Me a Mountain.” It’s a reflective tune that slows down in the middle, almost like Nate is interviewing himself. This is his opportunity to make himself vulnerable and allows the audience to learn more about what inspires him. He challenges the listener to leave a legacy, rather than just be known for what they do for a living. Nate’s vocals have a cleaner, more serious vibe, which is different from the edgy sound that we hear throughout this record.

Overall, Make Me A Mountain is a great album, especially if you miss the old days of Blink 182, Sugarcult and MxPx. Nate takes a lot of inspiration from these pop punk roots and molds it all into his own blend of guitar riffs, gritty vocals and inspirational lyrics. A majority of the songs you could find or put on a summer playlist to play with the windows down and it ends with three songs that are self-reflective and allow the audience to ponder on their own direction in life. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this record and can’t wait to hear more. If you haven’t had the chance yet, try to catch him out on the west coast leg of the Y2K Reloaded Tour with Seventh Day Slumber, Jason Dunn and Magdalene Rose.