Straight out of Hermosa Beach, California, THE LOKES are bringing honest, high-energy rock ’n’ roll to The Riff Report’s grassroots radar, and their latest release sees them tackling one of the most recognisable alternative anthems of the past decade! 🎸🔥
The four-piece American rock band have released their own interpretation of Hozier’s “Take Me To Church”, featuring guest vocalist Lex Farrell.
Released on 30 October 2026, the single follows the band’s self-titled debut album, which arrived earlier this year through their own independent label, Stay Loke Records.
Fronted by Mitch Boyd, a former Merchant Marine deep-sea ship engineer, The Lokes are a band with an interesting story.
Their music is rooted in the rock scene of Southern California’s South Bay, a region with a rich musical history and a reputation for producing artists who aren’t afraid to do things their own way.
And after releasing their debut album and headlining Harvelle’s Long Beach in June 2026, the band are continuing to build their reputation.
Now they’re taking on a song made famous by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier.
It’s a bold choice.
Because when you’re covering a song that has become a modern classic, you’d better bring something of your own to the table.
Can The Lokes turn “Take Me To Church” into a rock anthem with their own identity?
That’s the challenge they’ve set themselves.
And we’re always interested in hearing what happens when an independent rock band decides to tackle something this ambitious! 🤘
💿 SINGLE INFORMATION
Artist: The Lokes
Single: Take Me To Church
Featuring: Lex Farrell
Release Date: 30 October 2026
Hometown: Hermosa Beach, California, USA 🇺🇸
Genre: Rock / Alternative Rock
Release Type: Cover Single
Original Artist: Hozier
Record Label: Stay Loke Records (label of the band’s debut album)
Previous Release: The Lokes (Self-Titled Debut Album, 22 May 2026)
⭐ THE RIFF REPORT RATING: Pending Direct Listening Review
🔥 WHO ARE THE LOKES?
The Lokes are a four-piece rock band from Hermosa Beach, California.
Their music is rooted in honest, energetic rock ’n’ roll and the musical culture of Southern California’s South Bay.
The group are fronted by Mitch Boyd, whose background is rather different from that of your average rock singer.
Before pursuing his musical career, Boyd worked as a Merchant Marine deep-sea ship engineer.
That’s right.
While some musicians spend their early years travelling between rehearsal rooms and small venues, Boyd’s professional life involved working aboard ships.
It’s an unusual background for a rock frontman.
But it certainly makes for an interesting story.
Working at sea requires discipline, technical knowledge and the ability to handle demanding conditions.
And while engineering aboard a ship and fronting a rock band are very different occupations, both involve pressure, teamwork and keeping things running when circumstances become challenging.
One involves enormous engines.
The other involves enormous guitar amplifiers.
Either way, you’d probably want to bring ear protection! 🎸⚓
The band’s identity is closely connected to their South Bay roots.
And their approach to music reflects an appreciation for straightforward rock songwriting and energetic live performances.
🌊 HERMOSA BEACH – A PLACE WITH ROCK ’N’ ROLL HISTORY
Hermosa Beach is a coastal city in Los Angeles County, California.
Known for its beaches and laid-back Southern California atmosphere, the city also has a significant place in American music history.
The surrounding South Bay region has been particularly important to the development of punk rock and alternative music.
Bands associated with the wider area include Black Flag, Descendents and Pennywise.
Their music helped establish the region as an important centre for independent rock and punk.
Of course, The Lokes aren’t necessarily trying to recreate those bands’ sounds.
But they emerge from a musical environment where independent artists have long been encouraged to develop their own identities.
And that connection to a local music community is an important part of their story.
💿 THE LOKES RELEASE THEIR SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM
Before unveiling their latest single, The Lokes released their self-titled debut album on 22 May 2026.
The record arrived through Stay Loke Records, reflecting the band’s independent approach.
For an emerging group, releasing a debut album is a significant achievement.
It’s the culmination of songwriting, rehearsals, recording sessions and countless decisions about how the music should sound.
And it’s also an opportunity to introduce the band’s identity to a wider audience.
For The Lokes, their debut established the foundation for their next chapter.
Rather than relying entirely on individual singles, the group introduced themselves through a full-length project.
That gives listeners an opportunity to explore their musical direction beyond one track.
And with the release of “Take Me To Church”, the band are now expanding their catalogue.
🎤 HEADLINING HARVELLE’S LONG BEACH
In June 2026, The Lokes headlined Harvelle’s Long Beach.
For an independent band, a headline performance is an important milestone.
It provides an opportunity to present a full set and establish a direct connection with an audience.
Live performances are particularly important for guitar-driven rock bands.
They’re where songs can develop beyond the studio.
Where musicians build chemistry.
And where audiences decide whether they want to hear more.
The band’s appearance at Harvelle’s represented another step in their development following the release of their debut album.
And with new music arriving just a few months later, The Lokes have continued maintaining their momentum throughout 2026.
🎵 ‘TAKE ME TO CHURCH’ – TAKING ON A MODERN ALTERNATIVE CLASSIC
Released on 30 October 2026, The Lokes’ latest single is a cover of “Take Me To Church”.
The song was originally recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier.
First released in 2013, it became an international breakthrough hit and remains one of the most recognisable songs of his career.
Its combination of soul, blues, alternative rock and emotionally intense songwriting helped it reach audiences across different musical genres.
But “Take Me To Church” is much more than a memorable chorus.
The original song explores themes of love, desire, religious imagery and the condemnation of sexuality.
Its accompanying music video also addressed homophobia and violence.
Those themes gave the song a powerful social and emotional dimension.
And they remain important to understanding why it resonated with so many listeners.
For The Lokes, choosing to cover the song presents an interesting challenge.
The original recording has a distinctive identity.
Its vocal performance is central to its impact.
And the song’s emotional intensity is a major part of its appeal.
A successful cover needs to respect those qualities while offering listeners a reason to explore a different interpretation.
That’s where The Lokes and guest vocalist Lex Farrell enter the picture.
🎤 LEX FARRELL JOINS THE LOKES
One of the defining features of the new single is the involvement of Lex Farrell.
The guest vocalist joins The Lokes for their interpretation of Hozier’s modern classic.
Collaborations can introduce a different musical perspective to a band’s established sound.
A guest singer may bring contrasting vocal textures, a different emotional approach or additional melodic possibilities.
For a song as vocally demanding as “Take Me To Church”, the choice of singer is particularly important.
The original version relies heavily on Hozier’s expressive performance.
Any reinterpretation needs to establish its own vocal identity rather than simply attempting to imitate the original.
The Lokes’ decision to feature Farrell makes the vocal collaboration a central part of the release.
And it’s one of the most interesting elements to explore when listening to the recording.
🎸 THE RIFF REPORT SINGLE REVIEW
🔥 FIRST IMPRESSIONS – A BOLD SONG CHOICE
Covering a famous song can be a risky decision.
Choose something too obscure and audiences might not recognise it.
Choose something too familiar and comparisons with the original become unavoidable.
“Take Me To Church” definitely falls into the second category.
Hozier’s recording has become a modern alternative classic.
Its emotional intensity and distinctive vocal performance are deeply associated with the song.
That means The Lokes have selected material with a considerable reputation.
But it’s also a song that offers opportunities for reinterpretation.
Its strong melodic structure and dramatic emotional themes provide a foundation that could work within several musical styles.
And for a band rooted in high-energy rock, the opportunity to approach it from a different perspective is intriguing.
Review note: This feature is based on the band’s supplied information and the established history of Hozier’s original song. The Lokes’ new recording has not been independently auditioned for this article, so specific observations about its sound are not presented as first-hand listening impressions.
🎸 GUITARS – BRINGING THE SONG INTO A ROCK SETTING
The Lokes describe themselves as a high-energy rock band.
That makes their choice of “Take Me To Church” particularly interesting.
The original song already contains strong alternative and blues-influenced elements.
Those characteristics provide opportunities for a guitar-driven interpretation.
A rock arrangement could emphasise rhythmic intensity.
It could introduce additional guitar textures.
Or it could use changes in dynamics to build towards the song’s dramatic moments.
However, the exact approach taken by The Lokes needs to be assessed through direct listening.
The important question is whether the band have created an arrangement that reflects their own identity.
Because the best cover versions don’t simply reproduce familiar material.
They reveal something different about it.
🎤 VOCALS – MITCH BOYD AND LEX FARRELL
The vocal performance is likely to be one of the most important aspects of the release.
The Lokes are fronted by Mitch Boyd, with Lex Farrell appearing as a guest vocalist on the single.
“Take Me To Church” is a demanding song.
It requires emotional conviction.
Strong phrasing.
And the ability to communicate the intensity of the lyrics.
The original recording is closely associated with Hozier’s distinctive voice.
For The Lokes, the challenge is establishing a different interpretation.
The collaboration with Farrell introduces another creative element.
A full listening assessment will establish how the vocals are arranged and how effectively they communicate the song’s emotional character.
🥁 BASS AND DRUMS – THE FOUNDATION OF THE ARRANGEMENT
The rhythm section can make a significant difference when adapting a song into a rock arrangement.
Bass and drums influence the overall energy.
They establish the groove.
And they help determine how the music builds towards its most dramatic moments.
For a song such as “Take Me To Church”, dynamics are particularly important.
The original composition moves through passages of tension and release.
A new arrangement needs to preserve that sense of progression while introducing its own musical personality.
How The Lokes approach those rhythmic elements will be an important part of the finished recording’s impact.
✍️ SONGWRITING – WHY THE ORIGINAL STILL MATTERS
One of the reasons “Take Me To Church” has remained popular is the strength of its songwriting.
The original composition combines a memorable melody with powerful lyrical imagery.
Its themes also extend beyond conventional romantic songwriting.
Hozier used religious language and symbolism to explore desire, love and social judgement.
That gives the song emotional and cultural significance.
For The Lokes, the responsibility of performing a cover involves respecting the composition while finding a way to make it their own.
The lyrics already carry considerable weight.
The challenge is delivering them with conviction.
🎚️ PRODUCTION – FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE
A cover of “Take Me To Church” needs enough space for its emotional content.
The vocals must remain central.
The instruments should support the melody.
And the arrangement needs to build naturally.
For a high-energy rock band, there’s always the temptation to make everything bigger and louder.
But sometimes restraint can be just as effective.
The strongest arrangements understand when to introduce intensity and when to allow the song to breathe.
A direct listening review will determine how successfully The Lokes achieve that balance.
⭐ THE RIFF REPORT SINGLE VERDICT
The Lokes have made an ambitious choice by covering Hozier’s “Take Me To Church”.
It’s a song with an established reputation, memorable songwriting and significant emotional depth.
The band’s rock background provides an interesting foundation for a new interpretation.
And the involvement of guest vocalist Lex Farrell adds another element to the project.
The release also arrives during an important year for the group.
Their self-titled debut album was released in May.
They headlined Harvelle’s Long Beach in June.
And now they’re closing out October with another addition to their catalogue.
For an independent rock band, that’s encouraging momentum.
The ultimate success of the cover will depend on the arrangement, vocal performances and the extent to which The Lokes establish their own identity within the song.
⭐ THE RIFF REPORT RATING
Overall Single Rating: Pending Direct Listening Review
Songwriting Foundation: Established Modern Classic
Creative Approach: Rock Cover Featuring Guest Vocals
Independent Artist Appeal: Strong
Grassroots Radar: Worth Investigating
🎧 RECOMMENDED FOR FANS OF
Hozier, The Black Keys, Rival Sons, Kings Of Leon, The Gaslight Anthem and guitar-driven alternative rock.
These are broad listening recommendations rather than verified sonic comparisons with The Lokes’ recording.
🤘 WHY COVER SONGS STILL MATTER
Cover versions have been part of rock music since the genre’s earliest days.
Some of the most famous recordings in rock history are interpretations of songs originally written or performed by other artists.
Jimi Hendrix transformed Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower”.
Johnny Cash delivered a profoundly different interpretation of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt”.
And Disturbed introduced Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound Of Silence” to another generation of listeners.
Those recordings demonstrate that a cover can become something much more interesting than a straightforward imitation.
A different voice.
A different arrangement.
Or a different emotional perspective can change how audiences experience familiar material.
Of course, not every cover achieves that level of impact.
But the possibilities are what make the format interesting.
For The Lokes, “Take Me To Church” offers an opportunity to introduce their music to listeners who might already know Hozier’s original.
And if those listeners enjoy the interpretation, they may decide to explore the band’s debut album.
That’s one of the advantages of releasing a carefully chosen cover.
It can act as a gateway to an artist’s original music.
🌍 THE RIFF REPORT GRASSROOTS RADAR – CALIFORNIA CALLING!
Here at The Riff Report, we’re passionate about supporting independent rock and metal bands.
And The Lokes are another group worth introducing to our readers.
Their story is particularly interesting because of frontman Mitch Boyd’s unusual professional background.
A former deep-sea ship engineer becoming the frontman of a California rock band?
That’s not a story you hear every day.
But it’s also a reminder that musicians come from all walks of life.
Not everyone follows the same route into music.
Some spend years performing in local venues.
Others develop their musical ambitions alongside completely different careers.
And some apparently swap marine engineering for guitar amplifiers.
Whatever the journey, the important thing is the music.
The Lokes have already released their debut album, performed a headline show and followed it with a new single.
Those are meaningful milestones for an independent band.
And we’re interested to see where their journey takes them next.
🎸 THE RIFF REPORT SAYS…
From the engine rooms of deep-sea ships to the rock clubs of Southern California, Mitch Boyd and THE LOKES have certainly taken an interesting route into the music scene! ⚓🎸
The four-piece band have already enjoyed a productive 2026.
Their self-titled debut album arrived on 22 May through Stay Loke Records.
They followed it with a headline performance at Harvelle’s Long Beach in June.
And now they’re back with their interpretation of Hozier’s “Take Me To Church”, featuring Lex Farrell.
It’s an ambitious song choice.
Hozier’s original has become a modern classic.
And any band attempting to reinterpret it faces inevitable comparisons.
But that’s also part of the excitement of cover versions.
Different musicians can discover new possibilities within familiar songs.
And for independent bands, a well-chosen cover can introduce their music to a wider audience.
We’re particularly interested in how The Lokes have approached the song’s vocal arrangement and emotional intensity.
Because “Take Me To Church” isn’t simply a track that benefits from being played louder.
Its impact comes from the relationship between the music, the lyrics and the performance.
Finding the right balance is essential.
But whatever direction The Lokes have chosen, the release represents another step forward for a band building its reputation within the California rock scene.
And here at The Riff Report, we’re always happy to shine a spotlight on independent musicians putting in the work.
THE LOKES have officially landed on our grassroots radar!
Give their new single a listen, explore their debut album and support independent rock music.
Because every major band starts somewhere.
And sometimes, that journey begins with a former ship engineer, a few guitars and a determination to make some serious noise.
KEEP ROCK ALIVE. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MUSIC. TURN IT UP LOUD! 🤘🐉🔥
💿 THE LOKES – ‘TAKE ME TO CHURCH’
Artist: The Lokes
Featuring: Lex Farrell
Single: Take Me To Church
Original Artist: Hozier
Release Date: 30 October 2026
Hometown: Hermosa Beach, California, USA
Genre: Rock / Alternative Rock
Previous Album: The Lokes
Debut Album Release: 22 May 2026
Debut Album Label: Stay Loke Records
Notable Live Show: Harvelle’s Long Beach, June 2026
Discover The Lokes and their new single through the band’s official music channels and streaming platforms.
🎸 THE RIFF REPORT BLOG
Music Journalism With Boots At The Barricade. 🐉🤘🔥
