As the graceful reverb of guitars float around him, vocalist Michael Belsar chants out on Hunting Grounds' title track, “It's clear where we are going/I feel it's nowhere”. If their debut album, In Hindsight is anything to go by, the last place this sextet from Ballarat is going is nowhere.
Their debut sees a distinct shift in sound for the group, who have moved from their punk-inspired roots to a more mature and atmospheric new-wave sound. In Hindsight has been a long time coming, but from the opening track it's clear that it was worth the wait. Lead single, Flaws, is a catchy little number that reflects the control the band has developed over the past three years; the song progresses through highs and lows, through noise and silence with a newly gained maturity. The fast-paced Kill My Friends is a throwback to the band's origins, and the heavier sound and faster tempo of the song sits nicely amongst the other slower tracks. Similarly, In Colour is a compromise between grungy garage-rock and the indie-rock sound the boys have been moving towards.
In Hindsight isn't a completely flawless album. It sometimes sounds like a push/pull scenario is taking place, where the band isn't sure whether to look back towards its roots or to move forward with their newly-developed sound. This lack of cohesion isn't problematic as such, it just highlights areas for improvement for the band in the future. As a whole Hunting Grounds should be commended for such an impressive debut.
