THE LUNGS have a mantra: “make it visceral,” and with their dynamic live performances and string of consistently impeccable releases, this LA-based punk band has been doing just that since 2016. Driven by the hand-to-mouth grind that they and their fellow Angelenos endure daily, and fueled by the macro volatilities that sparked the anger of so many Americans, The Lungs express their discontent with a surge of infectious post-hardcore dynamism.
The band formed after San Fernando Valley based musicians Trevor Howard and Billy Goldstein exchanged some home demos and realized that they were writing music for the same band… all they needed was a drummer. After hearing these demos, it took little convincing for powerhouse drummer Dylan Howard, Trevor’s brother, to agree to join the pair in their mission. The trio quickly set to work on their debut self-titled EP, which they released in 2017. They followed this with 2018’s Bodysnatchers EP, a split 7” with Total Massacre entitled Church + State in 2019, and a slew of kinetic live shows. In 2020, the band joined forces with eclectic Los Angeles record label Dune Altar to release their first full-length album, a sonic megaforce called Psychic Tombs. The album was met with warm reviews but the band’s touring plans were stifled by the great plague. Not ones to be deterred, the band added 2nd guitarist Gregor Cash and put on an incredible live streamed performance, commemorated by the limited edition VHS release Psychic Tombs: Live From the Gold Room, which sold out instantly.
While The Lungs’ music is grounded in punk rock, the band borrows the frenetic spirit of hardcore, the immortal energy of rock and roll, and the discordance and rhythmic complexity of post-hardcore, channeling these into an undeniably commanding cacophony that is sure to become the next pandemic. Add to that, they've got something to say, addressing issues ranging from substance abuse to mental health collapse and collective economic pressures.
