STARS: 4.5/5
English alternative rock band Nothing But Thieves’s sophomore album is an emotionally exhilarating ride from start to finish, and it will leave listeners nothing but impressed afterward.
“Broken Machine” manages to be both cohesive and dynamic at the same time. Each song flows seamlessly into the next while building upon one another, each adding another dimension to the album as a whole.
Softer high notes are paired with rock-heavy sounds to create an intentional juxtaposition mirroring the conflicting emotions the songs explore. Even the album’s more traditional rock songs — “Number 13,” “I’m Not Made by Design” and “Get Better” — feature unexpected electronic twists.
This effort was not a feat achieved overnight. Copious thought went into every last detail of the album, which explains why it took nearly two years to complete.
“We’d have email threads about the length of time in between the fade-ins, it’s insane,” lead singer Conor Mason said in an interview with The Independent. “The order’s really important for us, it took ages.”
Although the album was admittedly carefully calculated, the technicality does not take away from its emotional intensity. The record deals with heavier topics like addiction, self-doubt and toxic relationships.
“Particles” discusses the sleeping-pill addiction Mason developed while on tour. The deluxe version of the album features the track twice with a slower piano version ending out the record.
“Amsterdam,” one of the album’s singles, is consistent with the angst displayed throughout the album. Lyrics like “So I hit my head up against the wall over and over again…’cause I don’t wanna be like them” show Mason’s battle with trying to stay original — one he feels like he is losing. The increasing tempo, heavy drums and screams toward the song’s end matches the frustration of the lyrics.
“Sorry” features haunting electric guitar sounds mirroring Mason’s guilt as he apologizes for using a romantic relationship for his own benefit while hurting his partner. The underlying melody as he sings lyrics like, “‘Cause it’s you that taught me how to love, It’s me who taught you how to stop” call to mind the greats of the alternative rock genre, Muse and Thirty Seconds to Mars.
With an album that will have you banging your head one second and contemplating life the next, it’s safe to say Nothing But Thieves has avoided the sophomore slump and instead earned its place as a force to be reckoned with in the world of alternative rock.
Listen to “Broken Machine” below.
