Lithuania faces a turbulent world on the new album White Reindeer

Philly punk rock trio Lithuania aren’t ones to allow for weeks and months of buzz leading up to a new release to build — they’d much rather catch everyone off guard by sending an entire album out into the world without any notice. At least, that’s what their latest news would have you think. The new album, White Reindeer, is out now digitally; it’s the band’s first full-length since 2015’s Hardcore Friends. Lithuania is made up of Dr. Dog drummer and solo artist Eric Slick, DRGN King’s Dominic Angelella (who also recently released a solo album) and Deleted Scenes’ Ricardo Lagomasino.

Despite its sudden release, White Reindeer has been a long time in the making — even thematically, drawing inspiration from events in the news and a tumultuous political landscape. Lithuania first alluded to a new album last year when they released “Holy Water,” a track that appears on White Reindeer. The album more than makes up for the wait, though — it’s packed full of powerful tracks that walk the delicate line between raging and buoyant, allowing the listener to dance and/or headbang along as Lithuania face the changing world head on and cast a welcome beacon of light in the darkness.

The band wrote in a Facebook post:

“it’s a concept album about cult of personality, the 2016 presidential race, neo-conservatism, the perils of american healthcare, police, false gurus and false martyrdom, abusive men and toxic masculinity, loneliness, and paradigm shifts. it’s also an album of hope and wielding your own power. a ‘white reindeer’ is a signal of overwhelming change.”

Lithuania’s next Philly appearance is at the super sold-out New Year’s Eve with The Districts show at Johnny Brenda’s on Dec. 31. Listen to White Reindeer below via Bandcamp.