Aerosmith & YUNGBLUD, ‘One More Time’: Classic Rock Recycled For Gen Z

Aerosmith, Yungblud - ‘One More Time’. Image credit: Ross Halfin

‘It’s the kind of collaboration that young me wouldn’t even dream of so to sit here holding a vinyl in my hand that says Aerosmith and Yungblud on it is truly blowing my mind.’ – Dominic Harrison, aka Yungblud

Aerosmith have kept their seat reserved at the forefront of rock culture. They don’t have to market themselves to a new audience by hiring the influence of their 21st Century successor. In short: they don’t need Yungblud. 

And, to be honest, Yungblud doesn’t need them either. Announced earlier this month as a 3-time 2026 GRAMMY® nominee, backed by 3 No. 1 albums and a wake of sell-out US arena shows, the 28-year old is forging new, unprecedented demand for rock music from Gen Z.

And yet, we find ourselves here, with the artists colliding on 5 track EP, ‘One More Time’. Out today, the new release does not shy away from what it is: a rock and roll revival for Aerosmith, and a bonus crest seeing out the same wave of success generated from Yungblud’s ‘Idols’ album earlier this year.

Read our full review below.

Aerosmith, Yungblud ‘One More Time’ EP Artwork. Image credit: Chrome Hearts, Chuff Media

It doesn’t seem too far a stretch to suggest that Yungblud could be the Aerosmith of his generation; a one-man act that resonates with millions (admittedly not of the original rock era). They’re not easy shoes to fill. As one of the most influential bands in history, Aerosmith are Multi-GRAMMY® award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® inductees, and one of only two American rock bands with 25 (RIAA) gold and platinum albums. 

On making the record, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler compared it to ‘plugging into pure electricity! For Joe and me it was another cosmic collision…to find ourselves with this outrageously talented and positively wild animal named Dom. It reminded me of the wheels of the car vibrating my seat as the boys and I drove into Boston 50 years ago for the very first time. It had that same deep intimate pressure of necessity.’

That ‘deep intimate pressure of necessity’ is palpable in ‘My Only Angel’, a brilliant single and EP opener which even the most loyal of Aerosmith fans will struggle to deny does not benefit from the soaring support of Yungblud’s harmonies.

Across the EP, Tyler and Harrison ‘share the microphone’ without trying to outshine each other; refreshing to hear two powerful male voices centrestage on a rock track. Yungblud’s tone has a natural scratch, but it’s ultimately smoother, presenting a crisp contrast to the stretched out Yankee drawl from the ‘Demon of Screamin’.

“That ‘deep intimate pressure of necessity’ is palpable in ‘My Only Angel’, a brilliant single and EP opener which even the most loyal of Aerosmith fans will struggle to deny does not benefit from the soaring support of Yungblud’s harmonies.”

Second track ‘Problems’ leads with Yungblud descending into the wails of ‘historic’ rock – arguably too much. The surging, fresh energy of Yungblud’s live shows that have crossed borders and sound barriers this year could be bottled better across the EP — the opening backtracked to those screaming audiences feels slightly over-indulgent for a studio recording. Somewhere between ‘Problems’ and ‘Wild Women’, it seems to fall a little flat; if simply for the fact that it’s ‘more of the same’, and therefore loses its oomph.

Arrive at ‘A Thousand Days’; a strong, ephemeral rock ballad introducing a rich set of strings… until you realise it sounds just like ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’. Perhaps it’s the chorus line ‘heaven’s gonna burn down eventually’’, the influence of former Guns N Roses drummer Matt Sorum playing his part… or that the hook does just sound very similar. This track flies a little too close to the sun of its influence to sound beyond imitation for an original release in 2025.

The EP comes to a screeching halt with final track ‘Back In The Saddle’, an Aerosmith classic remixed almost 50 years after its initial release. It’s an unignorable demand for attention; and an aptly titled finale for Aerosmith’s first release in twelve years.

“Ultimately, ‘One More Time’ is a passion project by two artists who happen to be very good at making rock music. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel – but the wheel didn’t really need reinventing. ”

‘The original is better’ you can hear the millennials come charging over the hill. Well, it’s different, certainly. This version is driven with confidence rather than recklessness, the riff more isolated, but just as powerful. Tyler’s vocals have a richer tone, a touch more paired back, while Yungblud stamps forward with his voice at full pelt. But let’s not forget that this song belongs to an entirely different world. For it to sound relevant (perhaps the best of the EP) half a century after it was released, is the mark of a great song, great musicians, or both. 

Ultimately, ‘One More Time’ is a passion project by two artists who happen to be very good at making rock music. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel – but the wheel didn’t really need reinventing.

Yungblud picks up his world tour in Australia at the start of 2026, and is scheduled to perform more UK dates from April.