Album review: The Amazons – 21st Century Fiction

Something has happened to The Amazons. The indie outfit we once knew have been chewed up and spat out as something far more gnarly, with guitars heavily overdriven and amps cranked right up. 21st Century Fiction, described as their heaviest album yet, certainly takes a different direction. With a far more alt.rock slant, it even pulls influences of country and peppers in a dash of funky groove here and there too.

Accompanied by narratives of dissatisfaction with promised tales of certainty and security by the age of 30, vocalist Matthew Thomson penned these lyrics upon the end of his own third decade of living, exploring the chaos of the wider world and the inner throes of living, loving, and simply trying to survive.

Such musings are put to music that can be summarised as dark, even a little menacing in moments. Opening with the orchestral Living A Lie, it’s like being taken inside a Bond film, but as they later reach Pitch Black you're suddenly in a smokey country saloon, bobbing to lip curling, jangling guitar. Things have a habit of suddenly switching up and shapeshifting into new tempos and tones throughout, with the record also offering both short intermissions and grand tracks reaching over five minutes.

Elsewhere there’s flavours of Muse and Royal Blood (makes sense, given that My Blood lists production and drumming credits from Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher), but perhaps the most exciting offerings are Joe Bought A Gun – which sneakily builds into the filthiest overdriven, outlaw guitar tone – and finale Go All The Way, which waves an encouraging goodbye as it instructs you to throw yourself at your desires full pelt.

With all that said, could this be The Amazons’ villain arc? If so, it's welcome. 21st Century Fiction somehow manages to feel filthy, sexy, and tender all at the same time. In need of an existential crisis but want to feel like a hot rock star at the same time? Please get acquainted with your latest soundtrack to life.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Royal Blood, Foals, Muse

21st Century Fiction is released on May 9 via Nettwerk Music Group