The sophomore album can be a dreaded thing for artists who have reaped in the praise of their debut. If this is the case for Sydney based, Born Lion, they hold their poker face well. These guys have been around long enough on the Aussie music scene to know what works for them and what doesn’t. Through the mighty 12 tracks that make up Celebrate the Lie, Born Lion emphasise their zero-bullshit attitude through the mash up of sick guitar riffs, deafening drums, and angst ridden lyrics, all to prove their growth and to well and truly cement themselves as a beckoning force in the Aussie music industry.

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In 2013, Born Lion were crowned winners of Triple J Unearthed’s Soundwave competition and have since gone from strength to strength. Soon after winning, Triple J picked up three of their singles (D for Danger, Good Times Jimmy, and Good Dogs Play Dead) for a spin, that created traction and attracted new fans, paving the way for the 2015 ARIA nomination for Best Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal Award for their debut album Final Words. This success carried them through to tour the country multiple times over the past few years, both on their own headline tours, as well as supporting the likes of The Hives, The Bronx, Royal Blood, and more.

The creative process of the album began in a tiny rehearsal space in Sydney’s south. This six month stint led the quartet to narrow down their track list before heading to Adelaide to record the final cuts. They enlisted the help of producer Jimmy Balderstone (Luca Brasi, High Tensions, and Grenadiers) and Ryan Hazell to mix (The Drones, Green Buzzard) in order for the sound of Celebrate the Lie, to reach its full potential.

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The album kicks off with latest single, Slowly Sinking. This killer track opens up the world of Celebrate the Lie, and its unstoppable rhythm follows suit serving as a positively raucous welcome. Distorted guitar work that has seemed to become a trademark staple for these guys, cuts in to further provide a jagged rhythm before sinking into the calls of, ‘Miracle, get up off your feet.’ This opening track perfectly reiterates the fact that these lads are making the music they want to make without fear of breaking any boundaries or category lines. Slowly Sinking serves to emphasise this, and it does just that.

Evil K follows and shows off the band’s exploration of sound by pushing the limits of guitar distortion while showcasing some of the band’s best lyrical work on the album. It’s a manic, attention grabbing track with a sick hook, that will sure be a fan favourite. In a slight contrast to this the album’s taster single, Drag, uses more of a clean cut approach to its sound. It’s a personal favourite of mine that really shows Born Lion and their unapologetic punk hooks at their finest.

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Sonically speaking, this album packs a killer punch, with the latter half showcasing the band’s diversity and their dynamic approach to their new material. Old Days, places frontman John Bowker and his vocals in the front seat while its catchy chorus will surely get crowds chanting. Dead Beat serves as an F You to anyone and everyone who didn’t and still haven’t seen the band’s potential, whether it be musically or personally. Highs and Lows, Forces, and Endless follow on from one another to round off the album’s sonic exploration.

The final track, Waste, is really interesting though. It trails along a classic rock beat which again sees Bowker’s vocal work soar centre stage; a humble approach to casually show off  just how good his voice is. The song itself is a stark contrast to the others on the album as it doesn’t quite push the limits; it has little distortion, has quite a relaxed vibe, and shows vocal vulnerability, before leading into a heavy breakdown that closes the album in a standard Born Lion fashion.

Ultimately, Celebrate the Lie is a rampage mix of hardcore riffs, punk rock hooks, and Born Lion’s razor attitude perfectly shows off the band’s unique style and growth. To coincide with the heavily anticipated release of Celebrate the Lie, these Sydney lads are hitting the road ready to tear up venues in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Sydney. It may be too early to tell but I’d say keep an eye out for those ARIA nominations this year: Born Lion are back with a vengeance and are taking no prisoners.

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AMNPLIFY – DB