Since 2011, John Vournakis has been one of Atlanta’s few punk troubadours, a heart-on-sleeve songwriter who’s as comfortable crafting stripped down acoustic anthems as he is more dynamic alt-country jams. Thematically, he’s a soul searcher who examines the gray divide between faith and reality, good and evil, or, as he puts it in his Bandcamp bio, “what it means to be a good man in America today.” To date, passion and honesty have been his most formidable weapons, and he’s wielded them both exceedingly well.

After a series of short releases and an ongoing stint fronting melodic punks New Junk City, Vournakis will release his first solo full length, The Devil You Know, on Nov. 20. Recorded over a two-year span with Damon Moon at the Cottage, the 11-song album promises to be his most complex and definitive recording to date. For Vournakis, it’s an opportunity to stretch out and explore various voices. There’s sure to be some bare-bones acoustic folk, some ragged rockers, a bit of whiskey-fueled alt-country and more, all with an eye towards philosophical introspection and good old-fashioned southern storytelling.

With lead single “Left Brain Riot,” Vournakis once again displays his gift for melody and heartfelt songwriting. It’s anthemic without being bombastic, and there’s an unflagging sense of connectedness that feels authentic. Like a lot of his best work, it’s a song about the daily struggle to maintain spiritual balance and keep his inner demons at bay. “Tension keep clothes on my limbs and shoes [on] my feet/But there’s still this violent thing inside of me” he sings, but you can’t help but detect a hint of triumph in his voice. With age comes wisdom, and there’s no doubt The Devil You Know is Vournakis’ coming of age as a workman-like songwriter. The song ends on an upbeat note with some whimsical trombone (performed by Marie Robertson of heY!ALLigator) riding over the top of energetic guitar chords. It’s both a denouement and an affirmation; yes, the stress and strain of life remain, but rather than folding to the fear, there’s joy in acceptance and the determination to overcome.

The Devil You Know is out Nov. 20 on CD and cassette via Muckman Records with Bear Kids Recordings handling the digital distribution.

More Info
Web: johnvournakismusic.com
Bandcamp: johnvournakis.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @JohnVournakis
SoundCloud: @john-vournakis
Twitter: @jvournakis