Album Review: Living With Lions - Holy Shit
Three years and a line-up change later, Canada’s Living With Lions return with their follow up to their 2008 debut album 'Make Your Mark' with sophomore effort 'Holy Shit'The album opens up with the infectious 'Pieces' and it gives fans of the band a proper listen to new vocalist (ex-Misery Signals guitarist) Stu Ross, 'Pieces' is a song that builds up beautifully before launching into a killer verse and catchy chorus, the pace doesn’t let up there either with 'Regret Song' a song that by all judging by its lyrics should be a soppy pop song, but that couldn’t be further from the truth, it’s a driving anthem that’ll have you nodding along in appreciation in no time.
Living With Lions are known for their song writing ability and 'In Your Light' is a prime example of it, it has an absolutely massive chorus, while 'Maple Drive Is Still Alive' will be a fan favourite for sure, it goes to show they haven’t really lost that ability through their transition in personnel, that being said there are a couple of duds on the album, lead single 'Honesty, Honestly' while it sounds better in the form of an album song, it still falls a bit flat compared to the songs around it while 'Whatever You Want' doesn’t really go anywhere, thankfully these are just blips in an otherwise great album.
As you head into the final third of the album, you find yourself treated to three of the best songs on the record, 'Matthews Anthem' is probably the most refined and calm song on the album, but it still maintains a great melody and a great chorus while 'Rough Around The Edges' reverts back to the apparent fury that was evident in the previous songs, all of that leads up to what is, in my opinion the best song on the record 'When We Were Young' a song that incorporates all that is good about Living With Lions, it’s a huge anthem, with a brilliant chorus, great vocals and impressive musicianship, it’s an absolutely incredibly fitting closer.
Altogether 'Holy Shit' is an album that should propel Living With Lions to a bigger status, a status that they deserve, because this is the third major release now in which they’ve shown just how consistently good they can be.
4/5
'Holy Shit' by Living With Lions is released on May 17th through Adeline Records.
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Words by Chris Marshman
