No one is impervious to the pitfalls of life. A minefield just waiting to take us down, there is addiction, temptation, and more, leading to the collateral damage of hurting yourself and others. Enough to break many of us, fortunately, there is a light at the end of a dark tunnel, but only if we are honest with ourselves. A testament to this is former Hinder Frontman Austin John Winkler, who nearly saw his life end in 2019.
Someone who has been through the ringer, Winkler rose to Rock-n-Roll stardom back in 2005 with songs like “Get Stoned,” “Better Than Me,” and “Lips of an Angel.” All part of Hinder’s debut album Extreme Behavior (which topped charts and has gone three times platinum), they would sustain themselves as Hard Rock leaders over the next seven years with one chart-topping album after another, into 2012’s Welcome to the Freakshow. Living the dream, sadly, Winkler’s addictions were taking a firm hold of him, and by 2013, he was no longer leading the band he co-founded.
A heartbreaking turn of events, Winkler would eventually re-emerge with a solo career that included the 2016 EP Love Sick Radio. Seeming to be on the right track, another major roadblock emerged in the summer of 2019 when Winkler’s years of alcohol abuse caught up with him, resulting in three months in a hospital, twenty-four of which had him in the ICU. Unfathomable to imagine that this is when he nearly lost it all, but through the struggle, Winkler found sobriety.
After being clean of alcohol and any other destructive medications for six years, around 2022, some new music began to emerge in the form of stand-alone singles. Getting his feet wet in music once again and piquing the interest of listeners, Winkler’s complete resurrection occurred in 2025. With a new lease on life, he has climbed back from the bottom to assemble his new project, which he calls the Founder.
Something that reaffirms his love for songwriting and music, with the Founder Winkler has written songs much like the old days with Hinder, when he bared his soul in heartfelt storytelling. First releasing the single “Sometimes” back in February, on March 15, 2025, came the EP entitled Walking Ded.
Put out independently by Winkler, it marks his first proper collection of songs in nearly a decade. Teaming with Actor/Singer/Writer Brennin Hunt to handle the production results in a stunning mix of Rock-n-Roll songs that cut deep beneath the skin. In these six tracks, Winkler testifies to his most profound thoughts on the wild ride that has been his life without mincing words. Taking responsibility for his missteps, there is a sense of hope that shows that even in our darkest moments, we can find a path forward.
Proving redemption is possible, the first step forward is realizing the past is in the past, and if we remain caught in it, then we can never become the person we want to be. Pondering this truth, Winkler gives you rawness in his words with emotional singing that hits you right in the heart. This is especially the case with songs like “Walking Ded,” the gut-wrenching “B.T.S.D.” (Call It What You Want),” Fake,” and the haunting ” The Fall.”
Overall, Austin John Winkler realizes he still has a long road ahead of him, but the sincere humanity in these songs leads you to believe he is certainly on the right road. Rock-n-Roll exorcising inner darkness with hope for a better tomorrow, Cryptic Rock gives the Founder’s Walking Ded 4 out of 5 stars.
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