8/10

After the sudden departure of guitarist Nick McCarthy a few years back, it seemed like the days of Franz Ferdinand were numbered. But after a silence of three years since their collaborative album with Sparks, it looks like the outfit were simply taking their time as they return with a new line-up and new sound for their fifth full-length release 'Always Ascending', a name that symbolically reinvents them as a band.

From the singles we heard so far, it was clear that a new Franz Ferdinand was on the horizon. Gone were the toe-tapping indie anthems of the past, as they bring in a synth player into the mix to add a more disco feel to their sound. While they have always liked to see themselves as a fun-loving group, 'Always Ascending' sees them adopt an even more accessible dynamic, showing that while they may look different today, there is still plenty of life and passion left in them.

It may be a far cry from their most memorable material of their infancy, but this still packs a mighty punch from start to finish. Franz Ferdinand are surely going to become one of the biggest comebacks of the year, and this release cements that perfectly.