ALBUM REVIEW: The Hunna – The Hunna
A self-titled album is seen as a sign that you are a ‘serious’ musician now. Once you get to the self-titled era, it can be seen as a graduation from being another indie band to being one that earns respect from the industry. THE HUNNA – a rock trio from Hertfordshire, England – their fourth and self-titled album was a long-time coming. Formed in 2015, their fast rise to fame saw them crack the UK Top 20 with their 2016 debut album 100. This success was beaten by their second album, 2018’s Dare. Unfortunately, this streak of success soon ground to a halt, as issues with management, their record label, and the COVID-19 pandemic made the band take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
Their third album I’d Rather Die Than Let You In was released in October 2020, but charted poorly. After being passed around several record labels who wanted the band to focus on popularity rather than authenticity (which wasn’t needed as there was an incredibly strong fanbase), THE HUNNA decided to go back to their roots music-wise, and created their fourth album independently in a home studio.
The result is a 13-song album that takes influence from bands such as KINGS OF LEON, but ultimately is still the sound that THE HUNNA fans know and love – with a twist or two. From the opening synths of The Storm, it is clear this album was crafted with love. Whilst the synths at the start of the song do go on for half the length – which feels unnecessary – the song then erupts into a frenzy of guitars and vocalisation. Despite there being no singing on this song, the intro is definitely the calm before the storm.
Trash is a punk song that takes shots at those in the music industry who screwed the band over, with some fantastic on-the-nose lyrics. This sardonic humour is something that is lacking in music as it is so hard to get right; thankfully, THE HUNNA do it successfully. Throughout the album, it is clear that Ryan Potter (vocals/guitar), Dan Dorney (guitar) and Jack Metcalfe (drums) are having a blast. They sound confident and are experimenting with their sound, and it is for the best. The pacing of the album is extremely fast, before it turns into more of an indie rock album; however, this is not a bad thing, as even heartfelt anthems such as Find A Way Out (Back To You) have more fast-paced moments.
The only unfortunate side of things is that the album is quite long. Thirteen tracks does feel like quite a lot when 10 or 11 would’ve done just fine. It does just drag in places, and therefore could have been a bit shorter.
Overall though, THE HUNNA‘s fourth album takes them back to basics and shows what happens when a band get complete creative control. Despite being a little overstuffed, this album is a fantastic showcase of the band’s talent. It is a fun, creative album that is well-paced, and has some brilliant sardonic humour. Whilst it might not break new ground, THE HUNNA are having fun. And isn’t that what music is all about?
Rating: 8/10
The Hunna is set for release on October 28th via Believe.
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