Premiere: Hot Lava Returns With “Queen Of Fools,” Title Track From Upcoming Album
Reinvention at any stage is perilous. Letting go of what you know, shattering what other people perceive, and erasing years of progress to start from nothing. Life itself is already scary, but stripping away a foundation or safety net can feel paralyzing. Still, there are moments when reinvention isn’t a choice… it’s a necessity. A survival instinct that ignores caution, making way not only for something new and exciting but also for something that feels right, fitting, and appropriate. Yet, even with the comfort of finally bringing to life what’s been hidden in your mind, there are still other emotions to face. Regret, shame, doubt, and even chagrin linger, tied to an anguish that may never fully resolve, but hopefully fades enough to no longer stand in the way of embracing the rewards of reinvention.
This spirit serves as the catalyst for Queen of Fools, the new album from beloved Richmond indie rock band Hot Lava. Their first in nearly two decades, it comes after the band was revitalized following the pandemic, returning to the sound that made them scene favorites in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Drawing from personal upheaval, the album explores themes of identity, responsibility, impulse, and regret, channeling all of the reckoning into sharp, infectious indie rock. With a mix of playful irreverence and vulnerable introspection, Hot Lava turns everyday nusiances–like neglected laundry or overdue bills–into wry, revelatory mantras.
Set for release on Friday, May 30, the band is releasing the title track to that album just in time for April Fools’ Day, an irresistibly bouncy jangle rock anthem that’s both a confession and a declaration, a reflection on past missteps and a bold statement of the strides yet to come. Today, The Auricular is thrilled to premiere this new single, offering listeners further context into its tricky backstory and the dazzling sound that brings it to life.
Hot Lava began back in 2006 as a vehicle for then-art school students to explore the local scene and imbue local galleries and warehouse parties with their own colored flair. In 2007, the band released their debut album, Hot Lava Owns You, which was repurposed the following year into their debut record with Bar Non Records, the beloved album Lavalogy. From there, the band released music sporadically, including 2011’s Covered By Hot Lava, a collection of covers featuring their take on songs like “Valerie,” “I Will Survive,” and “For The Longest Time.” In 2013, they followed up with Iceland, a three-song EP teasing “part of something unfinished.”
Line-ups have shifted over the years, but Allison Apperson (guitar, vocals) and Matt Deans (keys, vocals) have remained at the core. Recent live performances have featured John Sizemore (guitar) & Gabe Lopez (bass) of The Milkstains as well as veteran drummer Brian Wiltz (The Moonbees, 7th Grade Girl Fight, Night Pills). For the “Queen of Fools” single, Apperson and Deans are joined by Sizemore, Bob Miller (trumpet), Kelly Queener (backing vocals), and Russell Lacy (bass), who also produced and recorded the track at his Virginia Moonwalker studio.
Described as a “breakup with yourself” album, Queen Of Fools documents a period of upheaval for Allison Apperson. “I blew up my life over the last few years,” Apperson confessed. “I got divorced, I came out, I left what I thought was my dream job. It was messy. It was foolish. If you were on the outside looking in you’d go ‘what is this woman doing?’ But I had to be a fool to survive. What was happening was really serious, but I made it through and don’t not feel like a queen now.”
“Only a fool does all of that stuff at 40,” she continued, but just like the title track to the new record says with melodic conviction: “I’m done and I won.” Despite its reflective lyricism, the song itself carries a breezy lightness, a melodic gust arriving at the onset of spring in Richmond. Walking guitar lines and a tapping rhythm infuse the track with a twee charm, complemented by a wispy synth line, a brief but refreshing breeze sweeping through a blooming tree, gently shedding some of its new flowers so its base has just as much color as its top.
“And I dread I’m the queen of all fools / A demon of cool,” Apperson sings in the second verse, acknowledging that while this new existence may bring style and poise, it’s not without its regrets. The accompanying baggage can’t be easily discarded, even as the excitement of new possibilities swirls around. “And if you ever want to beat the queen of fools / You’ve got to keep on, keep on running, running, running faster / Don’t look back ’cause you won’t last here,” the lyrics assert toward the end of the song, suggesting that this self-imposed title looms large in her life–a presence that can only be shaken by an intensified drive and zeal for the new path she’s forging.
Still, despite its weighty narrative, the band infuses the song with plenty of droll imagery, releasing it on April Fools’ Day and using Rick Astley for the single’s artwork–swapping his head for Apperson’s dog, Dolly Pawtron. The twelve-track album, due out at the end of May, continues this whimsical trend, addressing themes of photogenic obsession, intercity melancholy, and treasure found within the soil. “Queen of Fools” leads the way though with its magnetic sound and compelling narrative, wrapped in an artistic whimsy that both hides and reveals the vulnerable wounds still lingering beneath. This balance gives the album a rich emotional depth that complements any possible listening experience, all showing that Hot Lava’s pyroclastic blend of melody, rhythm, and passion is primed to erupt once more over the Richmond scene, just as striking and dynamic as it was decades prior.
“Queen Of Fools” is now available to stream and purchase on their Bandcamp page. The full album, Queen of Fools, will be released on Friday, May 30th, with an album release show that same day at Gallery5, featuring performances by Camo Face and Sweet Touch. For the latest updates on the album and more news, be sure to follow Hot Lava on social media.
