The Southend-On-Sea Goth rockers return with their 6th album.

A series of very good singles proceeding this caught the ear in a way their last couple of albums did not. Opening track ‘Ariel’ would not have been out of place on the astounding recent album from The Cure, ‘Songs of a Lost World’ with its slow burn start and build up.

The shortest track on this album weighs in at 3 minutes and 20 seconds, however most of them have room to breathe with 4 or 5 minute run times. ‘The Silence That Remains’ is another that develops and increases in intensity over its journey. There is plenty of colour from their synths on this album, at times leaning into one of their heroes Depeche Mode but nodding towards other 80s sounds as well. ‘Trial By Fire’ threatens to underwhelm before bursting into life on the chorus, nods towards Black Rebel Motorcycle Club along the way.

All of the unreleased tracks her are polished and solid efforts, LA Runaway probably being my favourite of the bunch, a great way to end the album.

‘More Than Life’ is the outstanding track, one of the best things they have ever done. It propels along with a real icy swagger, crunching guitar lines and memorable hook that burst into life on the chorus.

20 years into their career this is the most vital and relevant they have sounded since ‘Skying’ in 2011. For anyone who enjoys a hint of goth rock, or synths with a slightly moodier edge.