As a HUGE fan of Nothing But Thieves, I have been excited to listen to this album since their announcement in June. I have listened to each released single incessantly, and of course, have already booked tickets to next year’s gig; and I would say that it was worth the wait…
Whilst I wouldn’t yet consider it as epic as Broken Machine, each time I listen to it, it just gets better. The record does this without being repetitive, creating more original directions for the band, whilst staying true to the style that made them so great in the first place.
Importantly, I enjoyed every song on the album. Usually, there is at least one, that I really could do without, whether it’s Porcelain from Red Hot Chili Peppers’ By The Way, or Panic! At The Disco’s Impossible Year from Death of A Bachelor (maybe it’s just me?). But each song from Moral Panic is fun to listen to. The album starts with the explosive Unperson, which has a similar style to Ban All The Music, one of the hits from their first album, but with a little more edge.
This is followed by another pre-released single, Is Everybody Going Crazy, giving fans a chance to listen to what they know, and of course, enjoy Connor’s vocals. So the first song that we haven’t heard yet is Moral Panic, the album’s namesake. This is where the overall message of the album is conveyed. It shares ideas of fear, instability, and an inability to move on from mistakes. When releasing the album, the band said “Moral Panic hinges on what effect the pressures of the modern world and the information age have on us. It’s about people. It’s about you.” and this is clearly expressed in the mournful tones of Impossible (my personal favourite on the album).
It is impossible to compare this album to its predecessors when the circumstances are considered: this album was created during a time of uncertainty, and political conflict, when the world was completely turned upside down.
Where their debut album was focused on themes of unrequited love, angst and loss, and the follow-up, Broken Machine explored ideas of self-exploration, and identity, this album reflects the world around us. Songs like Unperson and Phobia express the loss of control, and anger at our current situation, whilst the more hopeful Free If We Want It and There Was Sun, reflect on better times, and hope for more (in classic, depressing, Nothing But Thieves style – they don’t actually write happy songs, right?)
If their journey from pub gigs, to supporting act, to now selling out arenas, can show us anything, it’s that Nothing But Thieves will only continue to get better. I for one, cannot wait to see what is next.
Rating: 9/10
By Frankie Cummings
Feature Image Credit: Sony Music Entertainment