It might have been one of the longest times since placebo dropped an album, and let's say it is worth the wait. With their 8th album finally out, I can say the one thing that rings true about placebos is that they are consistently good. They have never really dipped in quality in their 30 years of existence. This album is proof of that, and they also made one of their most experimental albums. They play around a lot with more synth-style keys and classical instruments like violins to create a sonically enjoyable experience while having their trademark sad lyrics at the center of each song. Brains vocals sound healthy and just as great like they always do. The backing vocals on this album are the most I've ever heard them use, and they just add a lot of flair to the songs. His guitar work here is soft and echoey, with the right amount of bite to it. From light strums to polished rock, they still got it. Bass has that clean, deep feeling like they always have. The percussions are hitting all the right strides at the right time. The lyrics at times can be a bit stale or not very well written, but that's the chance you take with placebo. Sometimes they don’t just stick as well. Lastly, some of the songs are a bit long, even for placebo standards. It’s actually their longest album to date, which makes sense since they haven't put out material for almost 8 years.