7/10

Over the last fourteen years of their career, The Horrors have been a strange yet captivating outfit to witness. After breaking out with their brash and untethered goth-rock sound in 2007 on their debut LP 'Strange House', the group quickly changed direction into something far more matured and atmospheric, a decision that brought them huge amounts of critical and commercial praise. But now four years since their last full-length 'V', it seems clear they are looking to revisit their origins on the new three-track EP 'Lout', a release that is a far cry from The Horrors we have come to know of late.

While their initial style was never meant to be universally adorned, it is clearly the sound that is at the heart of the group. And while they have done extremely well in toning it down over the years, it feels like they are now in a place to revisit that era and that is exactly what 'Lout' is all about. Filled with intense electronics, grizzled production, and a much darker presence than we were expecting, this new collection looks to merge their two worlds of influences to deliver this sprawling reintroduction to who they always wanted to be. Something that still feels fresh despite its far-flung origins.

The fact that this is just an EP does spell an interesting for the future of The Horrors. Is this a taste of what's to come or are they just looking to invest in a touch of nostalgia? Either way, it shows us all that they are far from losing their edge in this guise, and sees them comeback in their most exciting direction for a decade.