Lutheran Heat, where did you go? After their spectacular 2016 LP Louder From The Other Side, they pulled a reversed Houdini—disappearing without telling anyone. So it makes perfect sense that nine years later, the band would name their comeback record Hi Again—which is exactly the kind of innocent thing someone might say after resurfacing from an undercover op or a stint in witness protection. Officially, the band cites “life-changing events.” The truth? Probably still classified.

Hi Again isn’t entirely fresh—but not in a bad way. Most of the songs were written in the years following Louder From The Other Side, and the recordings date back five years. As such, the record feels like a natural follow-up, retaining all the charm and warmth that made the Minneapolis band so lovable in the first place.

The opening salvo of Get Enough and Alright made me fall in love with Lutheran Heat all over again, ghosting forgiven. Expect mid-paced, alt-pop-leaning indie punk tunes with a strong human heartbeat and a lively soul—basement pop fans of bands like Laika’s Orbit and Evening Standards will appreciate Hi Again very much.

Welcome back, Lutheran Heat. Please don’t vanish again. Hi Again is out now through Piñata Records. Pre-order the LP (with vinyl matching the vibrant, colorful artwork) directly from the band—shipping mid-April.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp