8/10

After originally breaking through with his initial offerings 'Overlord' and 'Masks' in the latter half of the 2010s, US artist and producer Kwolek took a step back from the new music scene, eventually returning last year with his dynamic comeback single 'Cemetery Days'. Since then, he has been on an exceptional ascension, turning out a wealth of rich and well-received outings, all looking to add something new and interesting to his vibrant catalogue. And with the buzz behind him well and truly back, he returns with his long-awaited third album 'T > H > I > S', a collection that reintroduces him as the innovative name he arrived as.

Bringing back more of that broad and lofty indie-rock aesthetic he is known for, 'T > H > I > S' makes for a wonderfully fresh and exciting return throughout. Picking up almost exactly where he left off with its shimmering guitar hooks and immersive soundscapes across all ten-tracks, he returns to the fold with some of his more mesmerising material to date here. Whether he is delivering a spellbinding array of glossy guitar hooks or exploring a more sombre attitude, 'T > H > I > S' packs itself with plenty of punch, building upon those wondrous foundations he has always looked to conjure.

While the seven-year gap between releases can sometimes show cracks in an artist's vision, 'T > H > I > S' feels just as powerful and urgent as any of Kwolek's previous work. Looking to make this record as impactful as possible, he has ended his extended absence with a truly absorbing array of anthems here.