Hunter & The Bear album 'Paper Heart' out 12 May 2017
Album release: 'Paper Heart' by Hunter & The Bear
Release date: 12 May 2017
More info: Band website
Hailed as ‘the heroes British rock needs right now’ by the Huffington Post, the mighty Hunter & The Bear's raw, infectious and downright thunderous output has seen them garner extensive plays on BBC Radio 6 and 2 already, as well as spots on large stages at Reading & Leeds, T in the Park and Hard Rock Calling festivals. A sold-out UK tour already under their belts, the band have also acquired prolific support slots, having toured with the likes of Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and Simple Minds respectively.
Brought up on a heavy diet of rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd, Hunter & The Bear are equally inspired by modern bands like Biffy Clyro, War On Drugs and Royal Blood and their debut album offers more than a glimpse of these formidable influences, as well as an insight into what you can expect from their raucous live shows.
‘Paper Heart’ is a collection of songs about people. Whether it’s those they’ve met on the road, their friends/family or even themselves, it’s an album of songs about the desires, dreams and shortcomings that reside within us all. Expansive and anthemic, the title track feature soaring, layered vocals addressing the fragile need in all of us to be loved; managing to be both melancholy, expansive and uplifting all at the same time. Elsewhere, the high-energy, powerhouse riffs of D.R.K offer more than enough to keep rock purists satisfied.
Slower tracks on the album, ‘I Am What I Am’ and ‘Won’t You Ever Come Home’ combine subtler atmospherics with delicate guitars and showcase the band’s softer side, dealing with the band’s increasingly more abstract concept of home. With their live shows being key, the guys are always travelling, meaning many of their songs explore the difficulties of maintaining relationships on the road and the problematic or interesting individuals they meet along the way. As a result, inspiration is just as likely to come from arguments overheard at petrol stations as it is difficult characters endured in dressing rooms…
On ‘Paper Heart’, all songs are written and performed by this group of close friends, making H&TB a real, organic project – one that’s built on pure passion, drive and belief in each other as musicians. With an expansive UK headline tour throughout May and June, as well as a string of festival appearances yet to be announced, why not check out the album and see why Hunter & The Bear are already being pitched as the UK’s most promising rock export…
Press reaction to date
"The heroes British rock needs right now" - The Huffington Post
"Hunter & The Bear have the formula down for a rather modern rock equation” - Impose