7/10

Since their earliest beginnings, Chastity Belt have always looked to deliver ambitious and captivating indie-rock, something that sets them apart from the crowd but also remaining a solid staple to their devout fanbase. But after almost a decade and three studio albums under their belt, the band had begin to feel like they were losing touch with their natural direction, feeling more and more pressure to create something for their audience rather than themselves. So now with album number four in our laps, the band have chosen to head back to their own unique perspective on this introspective self-titled collection.

The idea behind this being a self-titled release is that this is supposed to represent the most honest and true aesthetic of the band, shaking away the pretence and delivering something pure and from the heart. From the start, this seems to mean a more open and organic sound that relies rarely on production to give the lift these songs deserve. Instead the group remaining fairly lo-fi throughout this slower and meandering record, allowing us to really breathe in their latest sound and give us a release that fans will still adore without feeling too much like self-interest has gotten the better of them.

'Chastity Belt' may be thought of as a far different full-length to its predecessors, but in all, it feels like the natural next-step for their sound. Without much of the gloss and fanfare of their previous collections, we are finally beginning to hear the true sound of Chastity Belt, something that remains just as enticing and inviting as ever.