HUNTING LIONS from the USA are a new band whose members have previously played with Tiger Army, US Bombs, or Roadside Bombs. So it’s no surprise that the band has already shared the stage with Booze & Glory, Riverboat Gamblers, or The Generators in their short existence.
The mentioned bands are a fitting reference for HUNTING LIONS. The five experienced musicians play a mix of street punk, Oi, a small but significant touch of '77 punk, and down-to-earth American punk rock. Their style sometimes recalls the sound of The Business, albeit with more melodies, or even Frontkick (does anyone remember them?), but with a stronger Oi influence. Booze & Glory also serve as a good comparison, although HUNTING LIONS play in a more grounded, perhaps simpler manner, which should not be equated with being worse.
It’s a sound that is hardly played by young bands today, perhaps because it is a sound that is not the sound of today’s youth. Rather, it is a style preferred by seasoned punk rockers. For people who have gathered quite a bit of life experience, yet have neither lost nor sold their critical attitude or their soul.
Thus, “Dark” is by no means cheerful, which wouldn’t fit the color, but rather critical and dark. “Dead Generation” is one such song, and especially the opener “The City.” In “The City,” the city that was once loved and is now no longer in that form is described with longing, sadness, and a considerable amount of anger. The many changes have made things different, not better. It is by no means a song that propagates “Everything was better back then,” but rather one that deals with how people feel excluded by changes and are also excluded. This has to do with the spaces that are becoming fewer and fewer, goes through commercialization, and ends (not at all) with digitalization and the loneliness it causes. The city, the people, life changes, not always for the better.
The five songs on “Dark” are enjoyable and leave you wanting more.
“Dark” comes as a 12” vinyl with a special coating on the B-side.
