When Lord Huron debuted with Lonesome Dreams in 2012, the L.A. band did it on their own terms. The album is conceptually audacious, taking inspiration from pulp westerns by thematically linking all of the songs. “Immersive” is the buzzword nowadays, but Lord Huron’s big ideas put the “death of the album” talk on the back-burner.
With an opening move that engaging, the group needed more of that magic for their second album. They ended up refurbishing an old L.A. studio, experimenting with sound while songwriter Ben Schneider dived further into comic books. With old sci-fi and horror tales as the guide, Strange Trails lyrically takes to the cosmos, all while Lord Huron’s dusky Americana keeps things grounded. Of course, you don’t have to follow along as Schneider weaves his story. The tracks can stand alone on their own musical strengths. The band whips up some desert darkness on “The World Ender,” matching the song’s revenge fantasy. Download a Studio 1A version of the song below.
–Art Levy
