Article Contributed by Devious Planet
Published on 2026-05-16
Photo: Courtesy of Steve Louw
South African rock icon Steve Louw has released his powerful new studio album, Traces of the Flood, out today via BFD / The Orchard. Produced by acclaimed producer Kevin Shirley, the album further cements Louw’s legacy as one of South Africa’s most enduring and evocative rock storytellers.
A member of the South African Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Louw brings together cinematic songwriting, expansive Americana influences, and raw emotional depth across the album’s sweeping collection of songs.
Early praise for Traces of the Flood has been strong, with Blues Matters calling Steve Louw “a first-class songwriter who writes with depth and emotion,” adding, “I can’t recommend this album highly enough,” while RNR Magazine praised the record’s “solid and strong rock vibe throughout,” noting how “effective keyboards and electric guitars provide melodic finesse.” Blues in Britain highlighted “the overall vibe” as “heartfelt Americana featuring gorgeous country licks and a catchy, harmonised vocal coda.”
To coincide with the album’s release, Louw has also unveiled the title track single, “Traces of the Flood,” alongside an official music video now streaming on YouTube.
“In this panoramic tale, set in the barren South African Karoo landscape, we are on an exploration, traveling from the sea to the source of an African river,” says Louw of the song. “In a timeless landscape, cut through by wind and water, we meet renegades and rebels, lawmen and ladies, on a journey which becomes one of self-discovery.”
“Traces of the Flood is a song where you have to keep moving,” he continues. “The law is on your back. Storms are brewing. Fires are raging. You’re heading into the high mountains with a way to go.”
“Horses, Cadillacs and Bonnie & Clyde Whippets cross the empty plains, leading you through where a river quivers and disappears into a desert forest. The spirits of the dead are all around you, in the high plains and on moonlit gravel. You’ve landed on a deserted beach and sought redemption in the heart of the river.”
Throughout Traces of the Flood, Louw delivers vivid imagery and richly textured songwriting that blend classic rock spirit with deeply personal storytelling. Backed by Shirley’s expansive production, the album captures both the rugged beauty of the South African landscape and the universal themes of redemption, survival, and restless pursuit.
Traces of the Flood is available now on CD, vinyl, and all digital streaming platforms.
