Review | Heavy Lungs – Caviar

Label: FatCat Records

By Susie Long

Bristolian post-punk group Heavy Lungs have been a powerful force since their formation in 2017. Their sophomore album, ‘Caviar’, takes this to the next level, providing a cathartic, riotous record.

It speaks of insatiable desires, the need for fame and fortune, relationships with ego and countless other things, whilst sitting comfortably at under 30 minutes.

‘Caviar’ feels concise yet elaborate, blunt and yet incredibly telling. With this record, Heavy Lungs waste no time speaking their minds, and do so with brilliant levels of passion and flair.

It is no surprise, really, that the band are so close with Bristol giants IDLES, even earning an anthem named after frontman Danny Nedelko. Their tracks are raucous, punching acts of self-expression, all encased within an indie-infused punk package.

With form that mimics content, ‘Caviar’ serves as a clever portrait of the mind and body, revving up and breaking apart in ways that ensure that you don’t just hear this album, but feel it. 

Opening with the pounding, chaotic track ‘Yes Chef’, Heavy Lungs introduce disruption and discordance from the very beginning. With a call-and-response chorus and lyrics that seem to speak of the monotony and constant demand of work in the modern world, this track riles you up from the get-go. Underpinned with funk riffs and shredding guitar, it sets an incredible tone for the rest of the album.

The songs then go through a tumultuous ride of emotions and states, unravelling with the track ‘Call It In’. Addressing relationships with alcohol, this song starts as an almost aggressive, militant confession, before spiralling entirely. It is a brilliantly evocative expose, whilst retaining the punch and drive that Heavy Lungs has mastered so well.

Eventually, the album returns to its origins, concluding with the repetitive, fiery song ‘Life’s A Buffet’. With only four lines of lyrics, this track brings ‘Caviar’ back to its discordant, chaotic beginnings. Nedelko explained this as wanting to create “the end of a `60s concept album, but without the concept.” It is an explosive and energetic end to the album, and returns to the themes of constant demand and insatiable appetite that were introduced from track one.

All in all, this is a truly great album from Heavy Lungs. The band proclaimed that ‘Caviar’ is their “best record yet”, and I’d be inclined to agree.