Rating: NNN
In the last decade, the couple band dynamic has become synonymous with twee, sugar-sweet indie rock, like every song is cooed from partner to partner over the phone between “No, you hang up”s. Hunters’ core duo, Izzy Almeida and Derek Watson, recall a much more badass version of indie rock coupledom – less Matt & Kim, more Kim & Thurston – and they know it, wearing it in classic punk spikes (him) and a glorious mop of neon pink hair (her).
The couple trade shouts onstage and on record, their melodic but snarling, sweet yet aggressive dual yelp a constant mid-song conversation. But even more than their palpable chemistry, the most distinctive element of their sound is the impeccably fuzzy, amp-abusing stoner rock guitar tone. You can probably credit their secret weapon, producer James Iha, whose own shoegaze-meets-alt-rock guitar sound was instrumental to classic Smashing Pumpkins. It all adds up to an energizing, smile-inducing debut.
Top track: Blackheart
