Editors – Violence

Editors' sixth album Violence is bleak and slightly sinister throughout. With additional production work from Benjamin John Power (Blanck Mass), the heart of the album shows a desire for human connection in an increasingly digital world. This begins immediately on album opener Cold with Tom Smith's yearning vocals; 'It’s a lonely life, a long and lonely life.' This song does help set the mood but misses the mark somewhat. To prevent the album from becoming too dark, there is always the slight tinge of hope being teased.

There are sparks of brilliance and the band have married their rock and indie leanings with synths better than ever before. Fans have generally been happy to go along with Editors' twists and turns and there will be plenty for them to love on Violence. It’s a varied album, from the Muse-indebted Hallelujah (So Low) to the piano-driven No Sound But the Wind – a fan favourite for years that has finally made it on to an album – on which Smith’s voice has rarely sounded better.

Final track Belong is a slow building epic with myriad instruments that you could easily imagine soundtracking a film. At times, however, Violence is uninspiring; it lacks consistency on the whole, but their ferocious new direction results in Editors sounding the best they have in years. And when they get it right, such as on lead single Magazine, they're up there with the best.

Listen to: Magazine, Belong