8/10

When Squid released their breakthrough debut album 'Bright Green Field' in 2021, they were instantly greeted as one of the more unique and inventive names to have emerged that year. While their work contained a multitude of abstract and experimental ideas, they still managed to maintain an incredibly accessible sound that allowed them to skirt the peripheries of the commercial scene during the peak of their popularity. Now as they return with their highly-anticipated sophomore LP 'O Monolith', it seems as though they are continuing that adventurous spirit throughout this new full-length.

While 'Bright Green Field' had this almost jazz-inspired direction to it, with the band's sound heading off in completely unpredictable tangents at times, 'O Monolith' feels a little more rooted to its core aesthetic. While Squid do like to keep the listener on their toes with the odd burst of vibrant energy from time to time, the bulk of their newest collection is a far more refined listen. Aiming to create a more succinct and cohesive appeal on their second outing, they sacrifice some of their more outlandish ideals for a driven pursuit of raw and more purposeful power.

It may feel a little watered down when compared with their initial full-length, but 'O Monolith' still makes for an incredibly fascinating listen. Brimming with just as much creativity and innovation as they've always shown, they are still standing tall as one of the UK's most interesting bands today.