Album Review: Hilltop Hoods - Walking Under Stars

For anyone who’s been asleep for the past decade, Hilltop Hoods not only led Australian hip hop’s assault on the mainstream, but have remained at the top of the heap as others continue to make a play for the pinnacle of the genre.

Walking Under Stars is a curious album. The distance from this, the Hoods’ seventh studio album, to their earlier albums, is significant and represents the clear maturation of the trio over the years. Whereas Left Foot, Right Foot and The Calling were full of aggressive delivery and party anthems, what Walking Under Stars offers – for the most part – is a little more subdued.

The main component of this is DJ Debris’ reliance on strings and piano, while MCs Suffa and Pressure have also mellowed in their vocal delivery. Maybe this is a result of the pair growing older and wiser, or a reflection of the genre in general; on the surface, it’s difficult to know.

Some of the songs for Walking Under Stars were created at the same time as those for their last album, 2012’s Drinking From The Sun, and with both albums bookended by The Thirst Pts 1-5, there is definitely significant cohesion between the two.

If Walking Under Stars was the first Hilltop Hoods album you heard, though, you’d be impressed with the crystal-clear production and consistent approach brought by all three members. An intelligent record is on offer for those willing to set aside their expectations of another Aussie hip hop paint-by-numbers record.