Living With Lions

Vancouver, BC pop punk partiers Living With Lions underwent a major line-up change for new album Holy Shit. Not only did Bill Crook (A Textbook Tragedy) take over on bass, but vocalist Matt Postal left as well, leaving the daunting task of replacing a frontman up to Stu Ross (Lowtalker and ex-Misery Signals). Ross makes his presence known immediately on classic-sounding lead track "Pieces," and though there's a natural similarity between the two singers' deliveries, Ross surely had something to do with the progression heard on this anthemic sophomore full-length. The hooks here will embed themselves hard and fast ― songs like lead single "Honesty, Honestly" and "Rough Around the Edges" keep the Saves the Day and Lifetime flames burning bright. The songcraft on the excellent "Maple Drive is Still Alive" and the relentlessly melodic "When We Were Young" is strong, while the muscle behind them delivers on every compelling note the band delivered during their exhilarating live shows with the then-new line-up late last year.