London-based rock band Hunted By Elephants have dropped their intoxicating second album ‘Carry On’. Hunted By Elephants were formed in 2018 by Apostolos Liapis (vocals), Roman Flourendzou (guitar) and Raymond Phelan (bass), with a recent addition of Alex Butticè (drums). Full to the brim with soaring vocals, bubbling riffs, and energising drums, ‘Carry On’ is an extension of the undeniable chemistry and passion for music within the quartet.
The love the band have for 70s hard rock and beyond hits you straight off the bat with the opening track and recent single ‘Let Me Be’. Introducing you to the warm fuzzy guitars this record is festooned with, Flourendzou’s catchy hooks creep up your already swaying spine while Phelan and Butticé lay the rhythmic groundwork, ensnaring your physicality in a groove that just doesn’t quit. Liapis’ effortlessly powerful vocals ooze with charisma as he tells you ‘if you can stay on my side, we both can be set free’.
With a voice as captivating as Liapis’, the story of a love gone cold in title track ‘Carry On’ is all the more potent. Taking us through the pain of heartbreak and wanting to ‘feel somehow that pain in my soul’ rather than be conscious to the fact the relationship is over, Liapis’ lyricism should leave you somewhat empty. Bouncing between infectious riffs and elevated hooks, the aural warmth in this track is all consuming, filling the tank. Resilience of the human soul at its finest comes with the lines ‘Now I know that life goes on/ And I better just carry on’.
The album implores you to take leave of whatever may be troubling you and lose yourself within it. That being said, Hunted By Elephants don’t waste the opportunity to appeal to the better nature of their audience. With songs like ‘Wiseman’, a funk driven ode for us all to take stock of ‘all that you can prevent’ so humanity may not stagnate. Led Zeppelin style bass lines lay the foundation for an infections vocal hook you’ll find yourself humming long after the record’s end. While ‘Electric’ comments on society’s promotion of greed, wanting to push back against ‘those who are on top/ A wealth of lies they hold’ over crashing drums and an easy guitar solo.
The collection of soundscapes within ‘Carry On’ is rich and vast. The slow burning ‘Ghost Song’ is a tale of a soul trapped in purgatory. ‘Freedom is what I desire the most’ the ghost proclaims, desperate to find their higher self. The harmonising gang vocals echo the sense of being ensnared, the fantastical essence of Black Sabbath radiating through the song. While the vocals paint a rather dark tableau, the simmering solo gives the song warmth, an atmosphere of a smokey bar back in the 70s where this song would easily fit in.
Arguably, the magnum opus of ‘Carry On’ is ‘Towards The Light’. Coming in at just over seven minutes, the ballad is a complete step away, but it is a step toward the divine. From the opening acoustic guitar, Hunted By Elephants create the atmosphere of sitting around a fire listening to the wise man of your tribe weave an epic saga. An enchantingly soft vocal ruminates on life and what is left behind once we ‘disappear in smoke’. Slow, methodical drums and the layering of harmonising vocals as the song progresses creates a rich, beautiful tone which sends chills through the entire body. Liapis demonstrates incredible range to his vocals and has it well in his command with a high note you just have to listen to for yourself. Flourendzou’s slow, effortless guitar solo invites you to close your eyes and allow yourself to transcend to a simpler time and place. ‘Towards The Light’ is an example of Hunted By Elephants’ incredible craftsmanship and intangible chemistry.
‘Carry On’ is a luscious homage to everything that makes hard rock, both in the 70s and in the modern era, truly great. Bursting at the seams with passion and exuding charisma, Hunted By Elephants have demonstrated what it truly means to be in a group which was forged by a mutual love of music and what can be created when that love is used as a driving force.
‘Carry On’ is available now across all streaming platforms as well as for physical purchase from the band’s website. For all the latest news from Hunted By Elephants, you can visit their website or follow their social media linked below.
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