Chase Petra Elevates Existential Angst on Lullabies for Dogs
Long Beach trio Chase Petra returns with their second album, Lullabies for Dogs, a record that grapples with the complexities of adulthood, self-doubt, and artistic ambition. Following their breakout debut, Liminal, the band refines their blend of alternative, emo, and pop while maintaining the raw energy that made them a standout act.
Produced by: Evan Schaid and Scoops Dardaris
From their earliest days, Chase Petra has embraced growth—whether that means growing up, growing apart, or growing tired of external expectations. The Long Beach trio made waves in the underground scene with their 2018 debut Liminal, a sharp fusion of alternative, emo, and pop. Now, with Lullabies for Dogs (Wax Bodega), the band builds on that foundation with a record that delves even deeper into the existential dilemmas of early adulthood.
Co-produced by drummer Evan Schaid and frequent collaborator Scoops Dardaris, Lullabies for Dogs is both sonically diverse and thematically cohesive. Across 13 tracks, the album effortlessly balances melancholic introspection with bursts of unfiltered energy. Songs like ‘Two Nights in New York’ and ‘Icarus’ lean into wistful, Cranberries-esque melodies, while ‘Centrifugal Force’ and ‘Bread and Circus’ channel the frenetic unpredictability of early Panic! At the Disco. The result is a dynamic, genre-fluid record that refuses to be boxed in.
Hunter Allen’s lyrics shine throughout, offering a mix of biting wit and raw vulnerability. Whether confronting the hypocrisies of organized religion on ‘Have Faith, Horatio,’ navigating heartbreak on ‘Because I Am My Own Dog,’ or surrendering to infatuation on ‘IWYTWT,’ the band captures the turbulence of one’s twenties with precision. This is self-proclaimed “quarter-life-crisis pop” at its finest—messy, searching, and painfully relatable.
Allen says of the album:
“A lot of this record deals with what it means to be an adult who’s playing music and also has bills to pay. I’ve wanted to do this my whole life, and I’ve never second-guessed that – but now my frontal lobe is fully developed, and I’m starting to wonder if this is really going to make me happy or if it’s going to tear me apart.”
That tension culminates in the album’s closer, ‘Hospital Bills and Scratchers,’ a galloping anthem that nods to the band’s debut single while marking a turning point in their journey. Allen isn’t giving up on her musical ambitions—she’s simply redefining what success looks like. Lullabies for Dogs isn’t about surrender; it’s about survival and learning to find joy on one’s own terms. Chase Petra might not have all the answers yet, but with this album, they prove they’re asking the right questions.
Standout Songs: ‘Centrifugal Force,’ ‘Have Faith, Horatio,’ ‘Because I Am My Own Dog,’ ‘A Bug’s Life,’ and ‘IWYTWT.’
Release Date: March 7
7.3
We’ve covered Chase Petra previously:’Have Faith, Horatio,’ ‘A Bug’s Life,’ and ‘Centrifugal Force.’
Connect with Chase Petra:
Wait! Before you leave, we’d like to share something important with you. Our site is an independent, small platform that is committed to providing valuable content without any pesky ads. However, to keep the site running smoothly and continue delivering quality content, we rely on the generous support of users like you.
By contributing a small donation, you can help us maintain our ad-free environment and ensure that our site remains a reliable resource for everyone. Your support matters and makes a significant difference in our ability to thrive and grow.
Thank you for being a part of our community, and we truly value your support!
To make a donation, please click here: Buy us a beer!
More music reviews from the team at The Daily Music Report can be found here.