Album// The Horrors, Skying.

The Horrors have come a long way since forming in Southend-on-Sea in 2005. From the garage-rock roots of their debut; “Strange House,” containing fierce, noir undertones, to the Mercury Prize nominated, follow up-“Primary Colours.” Marking phenomenal progression in sound, right through to their latest effort: “Skying.” Categorically cataloguing a lifetime of influences.

From the opening, jungle sounding, drumming of “Changing the Rain” with it’s Simple Minds style 80’s anthemia, right through to closer-“Oceans Burning,” a beautiful psychedelic love song, with a build up to a final burst of fist pumping energy.

Highlights of the album, however, include lead single; “Still Life,” with a distinct orchestration and eventual introduction of haunting keyboards. Demonstrating a typical melange melancholia of a modern masterpiece from the band. Also the upbeat number “I Can See Through You,” purveys a powerful, euphoric infectiousness, “Monica Gems” withholds punchy power chords and trippy vocals. Alongside the magnificent; “Endless Blue” incorporating psychedelic shoegaze with an element of garage-rock fuzz, a perfect balance between “Strange House” and “Primary Colours.” A distinct baggy element is also evident on the album, notably, the opening drumbeat of “Changing the Rain” and throughout the acidic “Dive In.”

Thus, overall “Skying” is a fantastic album, although there aren’t any instant standout classics alike “Sea Within A Sea,” “Who Can Say?” or even “Gloves,” after a couple of listens through they become evident and it can be seen that “Skying” is perhaps as good, if not better, than both of their previous efforts.

Jonathan Hatchman.