Lions Like Zebra—originally formed in Portugal in 2009—never simply coasted on tradition. After testing fresh sounds and ideas, they fused bold melodies with a stripped-back approach and a firm rhythmic backbone. Now, with their current line-up settled since 2024, including vocalist, composer, and guitarist João Pedroso alongside Sara Ângelo (rhythm guitar, vocals), Bruno Filipe (lead guitar, backing vocals), Tiago Mendes(bass), and Ruben Rodrigues (drums), they’ve forged a new legacy of raw sonic energy.
Their single Rise, taken from the decade-old seminal EP Lights Off, warrants rekindled attention for the way it scours rhythmic magnetism reminiscent of Queens of the Stone Age and injects the scuzzy grit of punk n roll. The percussion hits like fists in a riot, while the white-hot guitars screech through the atmospheric tension. In the verses, the vocals temper the intensity, holding it taut, only to erupt into a rallying cry during the choruses—urging listeners to rise above complacency and embrace a punk ethos that refuses to settle.
This is not a timeworn artefact—it’s an anthem of action, shaking off dust and lighting a fuse that still crackles with life.
Stream Rise with the rest of Lions Like Zebra’s EP, Lights Off, on all major platforms, including Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast
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