Pirates Press Records – 14 Apr 2023
Hunting Lions' second EP shows a slightly different, but equally excellent side of the band.
Bay Area punk supergroup Hunting Lions are back with the second half of their debut album. The first installment, Dark (which I also reviewed), was exactly what you'd expect from guys in bands like Swingin' Utters, Roadside Bombs, Beltones, US Bombs and Tiger Army. It was rock solid, well executed, meat and potatoes punk rock. The songs focused on familiar topics like gentrification, politics and the scene. On Light, Hunting Lions let themselves stretch out a bit.
Opener “Little Girl” finds the writer longing to hold on to a youthful innocence that's slipping away. “Maggie's Date” takes on the heavy topic of date rape. In the wrong hands, this could have gone terribly wrong. It ends up not only working, but also being arguably the best song on the record. These first two songs balance street punk toughness with an equal part tenderness. “Good Riddance” is an angry punk song about getting rid of worthless people.
“Hungry Heart” is an interesting choice for a cover. The song was famously written by Bruce Springsteen for the Ramones. In the end he decided to keep it, and it obviously went on to become a huge hit. Here we can kind of imagine what a Ramones version might have sounded like. Closer “Nothing Wrong” is another strong contender for best song on the record. The repeated coda of “I was born with a noose around my neck” really packs a punch.
It's unclear why Hunting Lions' debut LP was broken into two EPs, or whether Dark and Light will eventually be combined on a single record. In the age of streaming, quantity of releases has taken on increasing importance. Separately, you've got two very good (and beautiful) records. Combined, they're an early album of the year contender.
For vinyl fiends: Light is a white, one sided, 33 RPM 12 inch. The B-side is etched with the band's lions and swords logo. It's really a companion piece to Dark, which is the same thing on black vinyl. Both are limited to 250 pieces, which seems like an insanely small amount for something this good.
Part-time punk writer, suburban dad and angry old man. Follow my adventures on the Punk Till I Die podcast!