Reverend and the Makers were born out of a time when the music scene in Sheffield was experiencing some sort of indie revolution, with Arctic Monkeys taking the country by storm.

Much like their contemporaries, they have returned with a bold new sound. Incorporating elements of rock, ska and electronica, ‘ThirtyTwo’ is a high paced, thrill ride through 80’s nostalgia. With one foot in the past, the album also endeavours to reflect on growing older, hence the title.

There has been a lot of promotion prior to the album’s release, with lead singer Jon McClure putting on 32 intimate gigs in 32 fan’s front rooms, or anywhere they could fit! The band also collaborated with Thornbridge Brewery to make their own craft beer, Reverend Summer Ale which was so successful they are about to launch a new beer before they take off on a UK wide tour.

ThirtyTwo opens up with Detonator, a pounding synth driven song, and a perfect choice to introduce you to what is to come. Expect an album with witty and evocative lyrics, combined with heavy beats and catchy hooks.

Next up is I Spy, which has a distinctly 80’s industrial sound about it, reminiscent of New Order and a little bit of Pet Shop Boys thrown in for good measure.

The next two tracks, Devils Radio and Nostalgia bring the ska flavour to the mix. The former has an almost punk/ska feel about it in its fast pace and subject matter, which looks at the damaging effect of gossip. The latter Nostalgia meanwhile examines the differences between now and then, and how things that we perhaps hated, now seem to have a new sense of worth.

Now as John McClure pointed out in a recent interview on BBC 6Music he is getting to the age were crooning is to be expected and Happy Song does not disappoint on this front. Essentially it is a song of reflection, like the rest of the album, but it is a more subdued ballad which for me cements together a solid album. Different Trains is next up, and brings the album screaming back into the heavy, electronic sound listeners experienced in the first two tracks.

Time is undoubtedly one of the strongest songs on the album. As a social commentary on getting out of the house and taking action or simply just experiencing life, it is an anthem in all sense of the word. Old Enough To Know Better is what it says on the tin, another head bopper of a tune.

Towards the end of the album Play Me is again a strong track with a sense of bitterness. It’s melodic quality combined with the instrumental accompaniment is particularly poignant. The last two songs includes their latest single The Only One, which is about the complexities of feeling jealous as you get older and has an element of Talking Heads about it. Synth heavy Your Girl is the last track and closely resembles the sound of Kasabian’s Velociraptor album.

For fans of Reverend and the Makers this has been the album you have been waiting for, and let it be under no doubt that it will create a following after its release. John McClure’s heavy Yorkshire accent and his ability to write meaningful songs make this an album which is easy to relate with. The slower and more subdued songs only make the album stronger, while the rest will explode many a room up and down the country.

Star Rating: 4 out of 5