6/10

As one of the more memorable additions to the UK's indie-rock boom of the early 2000s, Maximo Park have still managed to stay relevant throughout the two decades since they first emerged. While they are now a very different outfit, both in sound and members, since they arrived, they have always sought to produce fresh and engaging guitar-driven anthems that build upon their dynamic legacy to date. And with their 2021 LP 'Nature Always Wins' continuing that progressive spirit, they are back once again with their eighth studio album 'Stream Of Life', a record that keeps them pushing forward.

While it may come across as one of the less adventurous, more focused releases of their recent tenure, 'Stream Of Life' still manages to create this fun and enjoyable direction for itself. Very much working towards the spritely formula Paul Smith's vocals have always injected into their energetic persona, their newest outing finds them in a strong and confident guise, despite not being one of their more instantly impactful offerings to date.

It may not be the comeback many of their fans would have hoped for, but 'Stream Of Life' still has plenty of moments that show the old Maximo Park is still thriving underneath the surface. Creating a broad and succinct approach to their aesthetic throughout, it still feels they are far from running low on ideas after almost twenty years on the grind.