The debut album from London quartet Bastille fits comfortably into the post-Coldplay genre of stadium indie, full as it is of anthemic choruses and emotionally charged lyrics, all given the slickest of production sheens. Led by singer and songwriter Dan Smith (who started Bastille as a solo project before deciding to form a band), Bad Blood largely veers between electro rock and piano ballads, with the occasional experimental flourish.
Opener ‘Pompeii’ sets the tone, with the band unashamedly going for festival anthem status, courtesy of the choral chanting and thumping electro rhythms. ‘Things We Lost In The Fire’ showcases Smith’s sensitive side, a ballad that opens with just Smith accompanying himself on piano, before the drums kick in for the inevitable ‘epic’ finale. Like some of Chris Martin & Co’s output, it’s catchy without getting the adrenaline pumping .
There’s more widescreen electro rock on the likes of the title-track (which features a ‘Viva La Vida’-style ‘oh-oh-oh’ chorus), ‘These Streets’ and ‘Icarus’. They vary the template somewhat on ‘Daniel In The Den’, which boasts Queen-like harmonies, although anyone looking for some David Lynch-style weirditude on ‘Laura Palmer’ (the title taken from the central character in the cult director’s TV show Twin Peaks) is likely to be sorely disappointed. Instead we get another piano-led rocker, complete with ‘80s power ballad lyrics: “This is your heart, can you feel it?/ Pumps through your veins/ Can you feel it?”
Bad Blood closes with ‘Get Home’, a piano ballad featuring weird Auto-Tuned harmonies and skittering rhythms. Like the record as a whole it’s accomplished and nicely made – but nothing to get excited about.
Key Track: ‘Laura Palmer’