Published by Mason Oldridge, 18 October 2022
Four years after disappointing audiences with Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, the boys are back with a brand new sound- but how will fans feel about the change in direction once again?
The album opens with lead single There’d Better Be a Mirrorball, showcasing a drastic change as the slow tempo song encompasses jazz and strings, with a Vegas lounge vibe. The single is rich in sound like their previous album and is a rather artistic piece from the band.
Unfortunately, the rest of the tracks are very similar, amalgamating with each other until you can’t tell the difference between them. There are no heavier songs among the collection to differentiate the tracks from each other either, leaving them to fade into the background.
The one that stands out from the crowd, however, is Sculptures Of Anything Goes. Gripping from the start as it opens to sinister bass and building at a nice pace, it offers a nice variation on a somewhat one-trick album.
Overall, the music is not bad by any means, just not varied, and their fanbase won’t find anything reminiscent of the band’s early days or fan-favourite AM album.
6/10