8/10

Since emerging back in the mid 90s, Dan Bejar's Destroyer project has moved through a broad and diverse array of sonic aesthetics. Largely focusing on his bright and shimmering songwriting for much of his tenure, the sound of the band has always moulded itself around whatever texture he is looking to conjure up at the time, giving their legacy an incredibly multifaceted feel. But for his thirteenth studio album 'LABYRINTHITIS', he has returned to the raw and organic vibe of his infancy to find a newer and more compelling avenue in which to explore.

Fans of the group will find 'LABYRINTHITIS' extremely homely has it has the same traditional live sound to it that made up the bulk of his earlier work. Opting to create this warm and inviting direction throughout, his newest full-length unveils a sweet and subtle majesty to it, adding a feverishly inventive appeal throughout. Dabbling in a eclectic array of genres that see him jump between rich and soaring atmospheric material to more intense offerings in a heartbeat, this new collection continues the fresh and adventurous ideals that have quickly become his calling card in recent years.

Bringing back another heady dose of passionate and captivating songs is never an easy feat, especially for an artist closing in on the thirtieth year of his career. But Destroyer is proving to be a project that never has an off day as Bejar once again offers up some brilliantly engaging and enticing cuts throughout this new record.