Foals ‎– Holy Fire CD

It's tempting to look at the third album by Foals as the opening exhibit in the case for the great guitar comeback of 2013. After all, here's a guitar band a long way from the ladrock landfill, who have been professing their love of pop in the buildup to the release of Holy Fire. What's more, there's clearly untapped commercial potential. While their debut album – 2008's scratchy and underpowered but at times exhilarating Antidotes – reached No 3 in the charts, its successor, Total Life Forever – more expansive, but sometimes failing to match its mood with actual melodies – managed only No 8 in 2010. But that still amounts to a fanbase large enough to sell out two shows at the Royal Albert Hall long before their third album hoves into view, and one can imagine those who've backed Foals hoping for two shows at the O2 before the album campaign finishes.

Their confidence wouldn't be misplaced. Holy Fire is unlikely to provoke mass shirt-removal and pint-waving at closing time, but it's a bold and confident gesture, exactly the kind of record "credible" bands make when they fancy playing their festival slots when it's getting dark, instead of in the middle of the afternoon.

Label: Warner Bros. Records ‎– 825646535828

Country: Europe

Media Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)
Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)