Released: 14th June 2019
Published by: Virgin Records Ltd
Following on from 2013’s Bad Blood and Wild World in 2016, Bastille’s third major release continues their wave of success with another cracking album.
For almost ten years now, Bastille have had excellent success in UK music; they’re easily one of the most recognisable and influential indie band on the scene and Doom Days as an album can be broken into two halves; snappy, upbeat electro pieces and slower more methodical tracks driven by a backing piano among other elements. Other singles such as “Million Pieces” are more anomalous and echoing, making use of retro style electronics blended with other instruments. The drums played by Chris Wood are especially effective towards setting each track apart, while Dan Smith’s distinctive vocals that guide the group are again given plenty of range to create a wide array of tones. In general, the variety on show is again excellent. Much like previous releases, there’s a definitive identity to the band, with the album artwork resembling a film poster.
Bastille have said that Doom Days represents a night out, from the ventures on the street at “Quarter Past Midnight” all the way through to thinking back to the night with “Those Nights”. What’s clever about the track arrangement is how each entry on the disc represents a different time of the evening, creating a sense of flow that runs through the whole album. With its focus on escapism, some of the songs carry some reference to real events in society, particularly “Divide” and the titular “Doom Days”. While these tracks are all great in their own way, I found the closing single “Joy” made the greatest impression, making use of a gospel choir to deliver a seriously funky beat that closes out the album brilliantly.
Doom Days is another excellent offering all around; Bastille continue to offer some brilliant creativity and a style that’s all their own. Contrary to its title, this third album is a euphoric collection that anyone can enjoy, fan or not.
Rating: A
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