DECLINE AND FALL

The last album from thinking plague is quiet a disappointment for me. It has all the great elements of their earlier albums, most notably In Extermis, but it's just not it. There are tracks where they sound as though they are trying to sound as themselves (like in Malthusian Dances), and others when they sound as taking heavy inspiration from other bands, more than they used to be (as in the middle of A Virtuous Man), and the lyrics are still not so great although there is an improvement, but nevertheless, this is still an enjoyable album if you like Thinking plague.

Malthusian Dances opens with a nice guitar riff, and changes rapidly in the middle, making this track still interesting.

I Cannot Fly marks the first highlight of the album, with a very good composition and great playing by Dave Willey.

Sleeper Cell Anthem continues the line of the former track, both in level as well as in the style with the addition of the great guitar work. In the middle of the track, a great bridge is done to one of the most beautiful melodies made in the last three albums by thinking plague.

A Virtuous Man is quiet a disappointment for me, it's a nice track, but it's just not Thinking plague, it's like they are another band.

The last two tracks are really good, and finish the album in a strong way.

Overall, this is a good album, but I have to downgrade it for the originality and for the sureness that they can do a lot more.

3.5 out of 5.