Fresh bruises is so SO sick. Electronic elements on this are done really well. I almost think the "normal" pop songs sound out of place against the heavy and electronic stuff
This is way different than I expected. Thought there’d be more throne-type follow up songs like mantra and wonderful life. Granted, I’m kinda glad there isn’t, and the electronics are great. On first listen I wish they went even more into the industrial/heavy side of it; some of the brief top 40 elements that show up feel out of place.
I think it's a good balance of everything - I wouldn't be surprised if the next album is more in the vein of ouch/fresh bruises/nihilist blues the previous albums always seem to ease in new styles before the next album takes them completely over
I still think the verses of mantra and wonderful are bad, that style just does nothing for me, but both choruses are massive. Medicine and mother have super catchy choruses too. Some of the more electronic songs feel like super dirty versions of the 1975’s petrichor and I like America (plz don’t flame me for this) Edit: now that i hear songs like ouch a second or third time, that’s the album I want from them now. TTS was fun, but this is just way fresher. 2008 me would hate me for saying that but I think they’re managed to do the electronics way better than the rock elements here.