Editors – Violence

An attempt at reinvention that falls flat...

Editors have long been embroiled in the all-too-familiar battle for self-reinvention, never really managing to live up to the success of a genuinely superb debut.

And while pre-release promises of brutality and collaboration with drone veteran Blanck Mass raised hopes for an intriguing new direction on 'Violence', the potential is frustratingly unrealised.

Rather than a coherent and recognisable new sound, it seems as though all manner of ideas are being thrown at the wall to see what sticks. Some of it is genuinely good – the driving pulse of the title track, the moodily atmospheric first half of ‘Counting Spooks’, and even the scuzzy guitar sounds on ‘Magazine’ all offering a glimpse of the sonic avenues that could be explored. But these moments are all too fleeting, and what remains is unfortunately pretty uninspiring.

5/10

Words: James Kilpin

– – –

– – –

Join us on Vero, as we get under the skin of global cultural happenings. Follow Clash Magazine as we skip merrily between clubs, concerts, interviews and photo shoots. Get backstage sneak peeks and a true view into our world as the fun and games unfold.

Buy Clash Magazine

-
Join the Clash mailing list for up to the minute music, fashion and film news.