Photo Credit: Press
Words: Sophie Thompson
Nothing But Thieves have returned with their fifth studio album Stray Dogs, over a decade since they first took over the rock music scene. They have created a sound which is so uniquely their own. It is an atmospheric collection of songs which embraces everything that has made them such a prominent force in modern British rock music whilst continuing to grow and mature as artists.
Hailing from Southend-On-Sea, Nothing But Thieves consisting of lead vocalist Conor Mason, guitarist Joe-Langridge-Brown, guitarist and keyboardist Dominic Craik, bassist Phillip Blake and drummer James Price have come a long way since they released their debut album in 2015. Now on their fifth studio album Stray Dogs, the record demonstrates a band who have firmly established their identity without it seeming repetitive.
Recorded at Angelic Studios in Oxfordshire, the same studio where the band recorded their debut album back in 2015, the album carries a sense of a group returning to their roots whilst looking firmly at the future.
Opening the record with the title track ‘Stray Dogs’ immediately establishes the vibe of the record. Driven by thunderous guitar riffs and euphoric melodies, the track explores themes of community, human connection and shared experiences in a world full of chaos. It is a bold introduction to the record, yet it feels designed to be experienced in a room full of people.
‘Testosterone’ follows with an immediate eruption into the band’s famous heavier guitars with a continuous vocal screaming ‘Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!’ during the chorus. The explosive rock is incredibly clean that it never loses its sense of cohesion.
The lead single ‘Evolution’ continues that energy, it combines a strong rhythmic foundation with Mason’s distinctive vocals creating one of the strongest moments on the record. There is a clear emphasis on the melodic melodies throughout Stray Dogs. ‘Death in the Backseat’ is driven by a powerful electric guitar but never losing Mason’s vocals to get lost in the rhythm. His vocal ability remains one of the band’s defining strengths.
#5 (Dehumanised) initially takes a slower approach before building into the rock sound that Nothing But Thieves have become known for. Its catchy chorus lingers long after the track ends, reinforcing the feeling that this is an album built with the live environment in mind.
That quality runs throughout Stray Dogs. They’re able to create huge atmospheric moments which go far beyond the headphones and will translate naturally to packed venues with riffs and choruses designed to be shouted out by a crowd of thousands.
Baby Kool (Evelyn) is one of the standout moments on the record; it is slower and quieter at times before it explodes into a booming sound of drums and electric guitars. The track moves between restraint and explosive rock without ever losing its direction.
What makes Stray Dogs so effective is that five albums in Nothing But Thieves have been able to define their sound whilst not being confined by it. There are elements of what they have become known for, the huge guitars, Mason’s soaring vocals and Price’s raucous drums but the record never feels like a copy of what they’ve done before, rather a reinvention of a past version of themselves.
‘I Needed You Then I Need You Now’ offers one of the slowest moments on the album providing some much-needed breathing room allowing the bands atmospheric sound to take the lead.
Closing off the album with ‘American Confidence’ and ‘A Different Kind of Happiness’ which demonstrate the breadth of the record as they explore the heavier rock sound which they have shied away from on previous releases. With Stray Dogs, Nothing But Thieves have created a record which feels like it belongs on the stage. A decade after their debut they are still finding ways to express who they are as a band.
Nothing But Thieves will be embarking on their biggest ever headline tour next year with dates across the UK and Europe. Tickets are available to purchase HERE.
