Alternative rock has never sounded better since the Doves came along. They remind me a lot of Interpol (whom also rule); lots of loud guitars, infatuating drums and serious lyrics. Kingdom of Rust starts poorly though, the first track Jetstream, has some truly average electro beat thing going on and it doesn’t really work. The album’s title track follows the lame opener however and definitely saves the day. So skip track one and pretend the album kicks off at track two.  Aside from a couple songs I’d regard as filler, the rest of the album is reasonably solid. 10:03 is beautifully atmospheric with a stomping finish, Spellbound sounds like a single from their first album, and House of Mirrors is so good you’ll want to start a bar fight just to celebrate hearing it.

The surprise from the album is Compulsion. It seems to combine Rapture’s delight with The Stone Roses, and I feel kind of dirty listening to it. A song has never made me feel so shit-hot cool, while being disgusted with myself at the same time. Worth a listen!