Iceage – Plowing into the Field of Love

The Lord's Favourite and Forever weren't red herrings, Iceage are – for this album at least – done with punk's unshackled abandon, songs that rage and disappear in the blink of an eye. Instead come explorations into matters of the heart, soundtracked by brass-bound choruses, chugging rockabilly and a newfound approach to their songcraft. Sure, The Lord's Favourite bizarrely sounds a little close to something that might've come out of London's New Cross in 2002-4, but it's preceded by the Bad Seeds-esque opener On My Fingers; Elias Bender Rønnenfelt's swaying, slurring vocal propped up by a piercing piano motif.

Elsewhere, the drawn out caustic balladry of Stay startles further in its open display of vulnerability, while Abundant Living shares more with The Pogues than just talk of “gaslight spires”. Comparing Iceage to Shane McGowan isn't something you'd ever consider doing even a few months ago, never mind predicting that the Danish quartet's startling overhaul would work this effectively.