The Hunna – I’d Rather Die than Let You In
In the morbid opener of their new album, British alt-rock outfit The Hunna speak in fiendish prose about the horror story to follow in the next 30 minutes. The infernal branding of I’d Rather Die than Let You In is reflected in its artwork, which depicts frontman Ryan Potter in a blood-red room, the words “die” and “you” highlighted in the title text. How despairing could this album be?
First song I Wanna Know aptly sets the stage. It’s a certified jam as far as melody goes, but the songwriting is dark: “I want to know how to f*** with your head / I wanna know how to lie to your face.” There’s an undercurrent of revenge from the outset. The following track, Young and Faded, moves away from the theme to embrace the responsibility-free exuberance afforded to youth. The song is both escapist and empowering for its target audience, though the screechy post-chorus is a little extreme.
Dark Times explicitly circles back to the premise outlined in the opener, as Potter bewails the terrible state of the world (“Each time I think about it / All it does is take me low”), adding that he’s going to “scream and let it all out.” Listeners will nod in agreement if not necessarily enjoyment; the alarming picture of contemporary society is a horror story.
As the band zigzags between post-breakup tracks and angry comment on current events, a structure forms wherein songs pair together to elaborate on the issues that the rockers find most interesting. Dark Times discovers its quasi-sequel in Lost – one of the great songs here – which centres around the mental struggle to navigate life. Then there’s the two-hander of One Day You’ll Thank Me and If This Is Love, a duo of lovelorn numbers with interesting vocal passages, albeit generic lyricism. Other noteworthy tunes include Cover You, featuring Travis Barker, and Horror – a heartfelt call to action amid the devastating wildfires in California.
With unexpected passion for sensitive topics, I’d Rather Die than Let You In is an impressive performance.
Musanna Ahmed
I’d Rather Die than Let You In is released on 2nd October 2020. For further information or to order the album visit The Hunna’s website here.
Watch the video for the single Young and Faded here:
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