7/10

Ever since breaking through with their wildly successful self-titled debut LP in 2017, Cigarettes After Sex have cornered the market in the modern "sad-pop" arena. Creating this beautifully alluring sound that borrows from the sombre and ethereal energy of shoegaze before rebranding it for a commercial audience, the band have found international acclaim in the years since, especially given the renowned response to their 2019 sophomore outing 'Cry'. But after a number of years away from the recording studio, they now make their eagerly-awaited return with their third studio album 'X's', a record that rekindles that sombre aesthetic they are known for.

Not ones to break away from their formative direction anytime soon, 'X's' sees them return to the fold with all the same tender and projective emotion they are known for. Moving with this subtle elegance from one track to the next, lead singer Greg Gonzalez's finds himself in one of his most passionate guises to date as he sweeps and swoons his way through this new offering with some beautifully heartwarming prose from start to finish.

Very much in the same vein they have always explored, Cigarettes After Sex seem strong believers in the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra. Continuing to pursue down that warm and shimmering path they have always ventured, 'X's' is a strong and confident return from one of the more spellbinding names on the scene today.