Canadian indie-rock band Islands released their first album in five years, ‘Islomania’ on 11 June via Royal Mountain Records!
There is darkness and doubt in every crevice of the album, but with this comes a cathartic release. After more than two years in the making, ‘Islomania’ acts as a culmination of things frontman Nick Thorburn learned from the intervening period, and all the things he had accomplished in the band’s initial 10-year run.
Opener and title track ‘Islomania’ has a light and easy sway to it, giving you a delicate introduction in to the new phase of Islands. Following on from this is the groovy ‘(We Like To) Do It With The Lights On’. It is an upbeat song bursting at the seams with fun chords celebrating finding joy and pleasure in life.
‘A Passionate Age’ presents an irresistible beat with its disco synths and distorted backing vocals with a pressing need for understanding seeping into the cracks. This thrilling rhythm is continued in to ‘Natural Law Party’, making for a perfect mid-album dance party!
As far as big and bold tracks go, ‘Never Let You Down’ and ‘Gore’ fit the bill exactly. These songs are made to be played on full blast and screamed at the top of your lungs at a gig (when the time allows…). They send the album off on a high, leaving us all hungry for more! If these don’t hype you up for the return of live music, then I don’t know what will. ‘Islomania’ was well worth the five year wait, and with a June release it will inevitably become the soundtrack of your summer!