7/10

Ever since they first introduced themselves with their stunning breakthrough debut album 'The Big Roar' in 2011, The Joy Formidable have always looked to pursue the broader and more euphoric side to the alt-rock sound. With a direction that incorporates sprawling soundscapes with bold and vibrant guitar hooks, their sound has been praised as one of the most cacophonous on the scene today. And after a few years of riding the buzz wave again with their 2018 LP 'AAARTH', they now returned with their fifth full-length 'Into The Blue', a record that sees them continue their soaring aesthetic.

Throughout the years, The Joy Formidable have maintained a forced and focused style, regularly building on the atmosphere of their former selves to create a distinct but still familiar aura. And this is no different to what we get to experience on 'Into The Blue'. Heading out into the Utah desert to record this new effort, the band have delivered another batch of enticing alt-rock stunners that create this succinct and driven sound from start to finish. And while it doesn't have the same intense energy as some of their previous works, still makes for an engaging listen throughout.

It may have been a while since they were riding the blistering wave of success in their formative years, but 'Into The Blue' still shows us they are far from falling short of the mark. There is this unparalleled texture to each of the tracks on here that lets you know they are very much putting their all into these new songs, something we rarely see from a band at this point in their career.