Canadian pop-punkers Living With Lions have undergone some fundamental line up changes since their debut LP Make Your Mark (2008). Despite this, the stir Holy Shit has created has granted Living With Lions some well-deserved attention, even if perhaps not for the right reasons.

While a proposed rapture captivated some of the pious recently, Living With Lions’s new release Holy Shit seems to be the focus of attention in Canada’s religious communities. The Vancouver Sun said “The album’s packaging, designed to look like a Bible with faded pages, lyrics written like Bible verses and subtitled The Poo Testament, features a play on the ascension of Christ, with Jesus portrayed as a piece of excrement.” Such a controversial marketing ploy has created somewhat of a (Holy) Shit storm for Living With Lions. But as the saying goes, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

Media hijacking aside, the album is pretty good. The addition of Stuart Ross (Lead Vocals) makes for a more polished sound that is careful not to stray far from the gruff and burly vocals that Living With Lions fans are accustomed to. “Pieces” showcases the quality that the Vancouverites are capable of— anthemic choruses are yelled over soaring pop-punk riffs, which, combined with the new frontman’s voice, produce a defined sound. “Regret Song” avoids the soppy emo that the title implies and continues the powerful pop-punk onslaught.

Unfortunately the album lulls around the middle, with first single ‘Honestly, Honestly’ playing it a little too safe and not doing justice to Living With Lions’s talents. However, “Maple Drive Is Still Alive” rescues the release, injecting a shot of adrenaline to the heart of Holy Shit and sounding a lot like Title Fight in the sunshine. From then on, it’s smooth sailing for Living with Lions – “Wake Up” has a pummelling bridge that builds to a grand final chorus, meanwhile “Rough Around the Edges” is anything but, combining chugging guitars with the luscious chorus hook, “She said sweetie if you need me/ I’ll be here”. Living With Lions save the best for last: “When We Were Young” captivates the band’s upbeat appeal and twisted sense of humour.

Poo-related puns aside, ultimately, Holy Shit offers a more refined album that maintains Living With Lions trademark sound. The shit has well and truly hit the fan. 

****/*****

*This review was composed by Ramsey Marwan