Heavy Lungs

“raucous, Rowdy, and altogether great” The Line Of Best Fit

“like a missile of early eighties punk” NME

“the good ship Heavy Lungs is definitely on course for greatness” DIY

“loud, aggressive and bleak, laced with a tinge of humour” DORK

“as ferocious on record as they are in the flesh” Bandcamp Daily

“pulverising punk... really fun and catchy as hell” The FACE
 

APRIL 18 - Bristol punk outfit Heavy Lungs release 2nd album Caviar today via FatCat Records. The album release is supported by a mammoth UK/EU tour for April and May (full dates below).

Recorded over the course of 10 long and sweaty days in Bristol’s Humm Studios Caviar is billed as a record for “those who enjoy Big riffs and have just under a half hour free in their hectic work hard play hard schedules”.

Powerful, vulnerable, and tongue-in-cheek, lyrically there are a few topics that are tackled on Caviar. The notion of failure, and trying to navigate that, the feeling of being burnt out and drained, and earning to escape all of these burdens are always close to the surface. A desire for something better than the reality at hand is a major cornerstone of the album as well. 

Sonically the soundbank pulls from further afield than your typical guitar, bass, drums set-up. Notably there’s an amazing kazoo solo on the record, a unique sonic application of a kettle, and a challenge to DEVO for the best use of a whip sample across music history. The process was anything but linear - from watching silent films on the studio telly as they recorded live takes, trying 17 fuzz pedals to realise the first one was perfect, to drummer George Garratt having his car window broken into during the time of recording percussion. Ultimately, fuelled by theft, the drums became even more pulverising.

Referencing the album title, lead vocalist Danny Nedelko explains: “one of the main themes of the record is a longing for a better life that currently seems beyond my grasp. The word caviar always possessed connotations of riches, status and excess. So after one late night conversation we realised it’s the perfect title to summarise this desire for elevated existence and success in one simple yet striking word.”

This may seem wistful, and at times bleak, on the face of it, but there’s a joy to Heavy Lungs’ brutal form of expression. They funnel life’s trials and tribulations through sticky, sweaty catharsis. Or as they put in a simple mantra:

“Write fast. Play fast. Wear earplugs”

ABOUT Heavy Lungs
Bursting onto the Bristol scene in 2017, the quartet released their debut record All Gas No Brakes via Alcopop! Records last year, following an impressive arsenal of three Eps, a live BBC 6 Music session recorded and pressed, as well as a split release with long time college sweethearts IDLES.

In terms of influences there’s a melting pot between the four members, which is constantly changing. A few that were kicking around during the recording of Caviar were The Stooges, Danny Brown, Oh Sees, Drain Gang, Ty Segall, Goggs, Queens of the Stone Age, and the theme song from the 90s Spider-Man cartoon.

Recent successes include a recent French tour back in April, being played by Iggy Pop numerous times on his radio show, playing Glastonbury festival and travelling Europe. Supporting Portishead,  Idles, Metz, The Oh Sees were special moments too. 

Media attention has come in the form of press backing at NME, Bandcamp Daily, The Line of Best Fit, DIY, DORK and more; and across BBC 6 Music (Steve Lamacq, Iggy Pop).

Heavy Lungs are Danny Nedelko – vocals; Oli Southgate – guitar; James Minchall – bass; George Garratt - drums