7/10

Since their infancy, the Swedish duo First Aid Kit have been proving themselves that country music needn't be the exclusive domain of the United States. And over the last couple of albums, we have heard them grow from a simple yet well-rounded outfit into a full blown juggernaut of heart-wrenching ballads and pop harmonies. But with the release of their fourth studio album 'Ruins', we see them capitalise on their comfortable success and deliver something with a little more punch than usual.

From the start, 'Ruins' pitches itself as this wildly ambitious release with its five-minute intro track 'Rebel Heart'. From there on, we kind of get to see the classic First Aid Kit sound of galloping country music, filled with all the usual cliches that come with it. But it is clear from the general sound of this record that the pair aren't looking to pigeonhole themselves in any way, thereby giving us a little more than just the basics and trying the odd new idea here and there.

It certainly sounds like a band in the middle of an evolution. A clear willingness to move on to new ideas while still pleasing their core fanbase with some familiar hits. But while that may sound like a jumble, they have manage to curate the tracks perfectly and deliver an album that is both diverse and engaging.