Indie rockers' fiery, yet mature comeback [Review]
Twelve years after their last album, British rockers The Libertines are back; and it seems everyone, including the members of the recently reformed band themselves, is surprised that Anthems for Doomed Youth actually made it.
Fans will be pleased that the new songs still have witty lyrics that tell a story, catchy riffs and the unmistakable voices of Pete Doherty and Carl Barat.
But unlike previous albums' themes of eternal fame and living for the moment, Anthems … is a lot more down to earth as the group accepts their limitations.
Belly of the Beast sounds rather like old hit, Kilimanjaro, but the lyrics are much soberer: "Don't know if this is forever/Sometimes this feels like forever."
That they made a new album at all shows a newfound maturity, even if it's only for the money.
But by no means have they abandoned their rock roots.
The Milkman's Horse, Barbarians and Glasgow Coma Scale Blues are all intense, blazing guitar anthems that suggest the foursome still have fire in their bellies.
It's the lyrics from the title track that perfectly sum up the album: "We're going nowhere, but nowhere's on our way."