THE STROKES

RCA / SONY

The New Abnormal

Blending fiery solos and charismatic noodling with crisp electronic beats and some of their most dizzyingly buoyant vocal melodies, The Strokes are here to declare a comeback of the most eruptive magnitude with their sixth studio album, and first in well over a decade to justify their status as the kings of indie-rock. Immediately striking is the interplay between singer Julian Casablancas (here belting with such incandescent passion that our throats hurt just listening to it) and lead guitarist Albert Hammond Jr – the latter’s inhumanly tight grasp on rhythm and the former’s impenetrable swagger are a match made in post-rock heaven; throw in some breezy ‘80s synths and a rhythm section that’s all types of tenacious, and you’ve got what might just go down as the 2020s’ first true masterpiece. Definitely one worthy of its overpriced vinyl set.