7/10

Since their earliest incarnation, US outfit DIIV have always looked to add a powerful and emotional edge to their music. Usually coupling despairing vocals with a broad and euphoric approach to instrumentation, the band's previous efforts 'Oshin' and 'Is The Is Are' have become solid beacons of the four-piece's sound and seen them push themselves creatively throughout every curve in their career. But with their third album 'Deceiver', it seems that they have been keen to give themselves a rebirth, one born out of lies, fractured friendships, and broken promises.

Although no strangers to turmoil in their lives, the last few years seem to have taken for of a toll on the group than we initially realised, not less down to the departure of founding member and bassist Devin Perez. But just like any strong creative outfit, they have turned their emotional upheaval into a strong and impassioned return. 'Deceiver' keeps their usual aesthetic of soft vocals, performed stunningly by frontman Zachary Cole Smith, and mixes it with soaring guitars and thunderous drums which transform this usually bleak band into something with far more gusto than we have heard before.

DIIV have usually found themselves on the cult side of the shoegaze scene, but this release sees them step out on their own and deliver something far bolder and atmospheric than their contemporaries could match. It may have been born out of tragedy, but this new collection shows us all that magic can be found in even the darkest corners.