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I was having a jovial jab there. But I still maintain its new album syndrome. For example Gore is a piss poor album - but Rubicon and Prayers are up there with their best. There's nothing of that standard on this album, nothing as bad as Gores worst, it's just completely safe, middle of the road and devoid of any excitement

I get Diamond eyes isn't to everyone's tastes - I think it's up there. But at least they tried something different.

I liked Gore at first, but then went off it pretty quickly. Ohms was more consistent, but I never went through a period of loving it.

TBF to this one it's not all great: My Mind is a Mountain is a bit of a go-nowhere plodder for me, I don't really like I Think About You All The Time - I think Infinite Source covers the same territory, but done more consisely and effectively - the two "rap" numbers towards the back of the record are questionable.

I think the rest of it is good stuff. Milk of The Madonna is going to stay on their setlists forever. I also really love Souvenir - it blew past me the first few listens, but I honestly think it's epic, even if I'd cut the two minutes of synth outro.

Think it's their best since Koi No Yokan and probably better than Diamond Eyes too.

Jesus, absolute madness. I literally just posted in pet peeves that when someone says their best since, they're usually talking shite so thanks for this.

I liken this sort of craic to people creaming themselves over Faith No Mores Sol Invictus, once the new record excitement fades it'll be filed under Not awful/Not Great

I'm on about that listens wise too, it's not getting any better. There's a few good tracks but it never soars to greatness

Is it really absolute madness to hold that opinion? Gore was mediocre and Ohms was better, but it wasn't all that great... So I don't think it's too wild to say this album is the best since KNY. The blocky heaviness of Diamond Eyes never really did it for me, but, to each their own.

I thought it was pretty meh at first, but, like has been said above elsewhere, it's grown on me. I think there's a number of good tracks on it: Milk of The Madonna, Ecdysis, Souvenir, Infinite Source, cXz, Departing The Body.

Don't get me wrong I'm not putting it up with WP or ATF - absolutely not - but, I think it's a grower and I'm pleasantly surprised by its quality after, IMO, two lesser albums prior to this.

Surprised that people are so mixed at best on this. Think it's their best since Koi No Yokan and probably better than Diamond Eyes too.

I don't know how much in terms of surprises a band going for thirty years can be expected to bring - I'd rather praise them for being remarkably consistent and still interesting after such a long time.

Great gig.

As many have said, the sound was excellent.

It was my third time seeing them.

The previous two times had been at The Button Factory.

What can you say? Where do you start?

The intensity of it is mad at times. I particularly enjoyed the first song where the maelstrom just got louder and louder and Gira started dancing around towards the end like some shaman.

When they reach a level of borderline aural assualt and just stay there for ages, it's incomparable to any other act really. It's more like some ritual than a "gig".

How they put themselves through that every night is pretty amazing.

I was a bit curious to see how the newer material would go over, considering it's a bit more acoustic and mellower, in places.

Truth be told, I don't think they're as engaging when they are at their quietest. They're still really good, don't get me wrong, but I think the really good stuff is when they're bringing max volume.

Was just going to post about how excellent that acoustic - well, partially acoustic - set is. It works for their stuff so well, The Czar in particular is outstanding in that format. I'd love to see some proper release of those versions.

Tbh they were a band I had a lot of time for but had fallen off my radar a bit in recent years. The new album is great and it made me go back through the back catalogue again. You've got to hand it to them, they really are an amazing band.