I want to be / Everything and more… / … But I forget / I was
raised by a world that didn’t care
Fast paced, self-aware, yet self-absorbed, but most of all -
hella catchy. Lookin Up’s first release in 4 years hit the internet just over
a month ago - after taking a hiatus for a few years, the band is back with
a whole new sound, and a whole lot of drive to get things done.
Enough was
recorded at Ocean Sound Recordings over in Norway, Europe. A remote little
studio on the edge of the world – the perfect place for the band to re-invent
their sound, away from the distractions and influences of home, back here in Aotearoa.
Plus, just for kicks, they threw in a whole lot of small shows all around Europe
– eager to get their groove back up on stage.
Taking on a whole new sound from their last release Reborn, Lookin Up have moved away from
the heavier, hardcore punk sound they were known for – and into a more punk
rock wave. As the first single release, it ticks all the boxes that make one
eager to hear the rest of the album – it has the bones of an egocentric catchy
anthem song, yet the lyrics take on such a melancholic self-awareness. It’s
easy to imagine the song going down an absolute hit when performed live.
Lookin Up say they have a whole lot of things planned for
us, so here’s hoping that more new releases come out shortly. I
know I’m definitely looking forward to catching these guys back in action at a
local show sometime soon.
★★★★ (4 stars)
Review written by Amanda Hailwood
Birthed in the Aotearoa Hardcore scene and playing endless shows up and down the country, Lookin Up is a band of high energy and passion. With their debut album Reborn released in March 2014, the band have done nothing but played with all they have, to anyone who is willing to listen. A tight and punchy wall of sound coupled with challenging lyrics encapsulates this positive and powerful live act, leaving you feeling uplifted and exhausted in the best possible way. Having secured support slots for Rise Against, Parkway Drive, Berri Txarrak, The Story So Far, Man Overboard, Gorilla Biscuits, Thy Art Is Murder, The Word Alive, Deez Nuts, Turnstile, Four Year Strong and many more, the future is looking bright for this Auckland based act.
Enduring the departure of their original vocalist in 2016, a brief hiatus and numerous line-up changes, Lookin Up returned in 2017 with their most ambitious plans to date. Enlisting the help of producer Greg Haver and engineer Brendan Davies, the band checked into Ocean Sound Recordings in Norway to record their second full length Gold. The band then looked to mixing legend, Tom Lord Alge to work on three of the tracks and they mixed the rest themselves. The release of Gold on the 5th of October marks the start of over 100 shows around the world and a massive statement of intent for the future of this band. Stay tuned.