The Hunters – Art Electric

The boys behind Quebec City’s The Hunters have returned with their third full length, Art Electric, and it marks a significant departure from their prior post-hardcore output.  While you can still faintly make out some of the Taking Back Sunday and Manchester Orchestra likenesses, the band pushes atmospheric elements further to the periphery in favour of more rock-ready guitar-heavy tunes.  The result makes Art Electric a far more direct listen, like watching a movie that you can take at face value versus one with multiple meanings below the surface.

Opener “Dave Grohl” takes broad inspiration from it’s title, making for a chorus heavy listen that thankfully distances itself enough from Foo Fighters as to not carry over the listless lyrical repetition.  Dominic Pelletier’s sweaty vocal sincerity stands tall even if the whole affair still feels like a white light stadium rocker that’s trying a tad too hard.  Follow-up “Hold On, Marci” beats with an interesting riff driven pulse that maintains an early element of urgency and suspense, even if the final vocal pathways fall shy of the payout implied.  It’s not until “Roadworn Heart” where the band demonstrates the foresight to strategically withhold their instrumental zeal at the climax and let Pelletier’s emotions burst forth and flood the airwaves.  “It Had To Be You” explores similar polarities and “Basement Remedies” brings out a one-time harmonica, but these pockets of reserve are far to few in Art Electric and will be sorely missed by fans hoping for the standout tracks like “Faux-Fire, Faux-Gold” that made Promises shine (not to be confused with “promises” which shares the same name). 

Before long listeners will catch how Art Electric unravels in a safe and predictable fashion.  For instance, “Lighthouse” features instrumental arcs and some radiant guitar work, but they’re too alike to stand out.  The song presents more like a low rolling prairie rather than with the hills and gullies of more topographically engaging terrain.  This limitation serves more broadly as a metaphor for the bulk of the album.  Where referencing Brand New felt appropriate in the past, now the likeness feels far removed.  Promises straddled a line between convention and excitement, Art Electric takes fewer risks by leaning further to the latter.

Art Electric remains a solid enough album with some standout picks – The Hunters are just writing for a different audience this time around.  There’s still plenty for fans to enjoy here – a steady rhythm, some neat guitar tricks and a commendable vocal performance – they just might miss the subtler, more intimate moments from before.