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10.0
74178
10.0 |
The Arts Desk
Distorted bass, hyperactive drums and fuzzy, lo-fi vocals come together in a whirlwind of relentless hardcore punk with enough weirdness thrown in to make them truly individual
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9.0
74179
9.0 |
Loud And Quiet
Approach with giddy trepidation
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9.0
74200
9.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
Fantastical and empiricist take on their trademark noise rock sound
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9.0
74227
9.0 |
Exclaim
Auditory annihilation never sounded so good
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9.0
74256
9.0 |
All Music
Getting to hear the band in a fuller spectrum of sound uncovers technical precision and nonstop intensity that were buried on previous efforts
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8.3
74177
8.3 |
Consequence Of Sound
Will reward longtime listeners and draw in new fans simultaneously, a heady accomplishment for a couple of dudes bashing away at their instruments
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8.0
74176
8.0 |
The Skinny
An ear-splitting delight
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8.0
74173
8.0 |
musicOMH
Lightning Bolt are still pushing at the edges, and are still exploring their own dynamics, it’s just this time around, it’s possible to hear every thrilling nuance
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8.0
74174
8.0 |
Pitchfork
They're still doing what they've always done, but Fantasy Empire is the best they've done it in a long time, and the new sheen makes everything seem magic again
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8.0
74180
8.0 |
NME
Lightning Bolt’s aim remains simple: to batter you into ecstatic submission
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8.0
74771
8.0 |
God Is In The TV
At its best, Fantasy Empire is a joyously destructive LP, which will dent eardrums and rattle fillings loose, in the best possible way
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8.0
74363
8.0 |
The Irish Times
A record with raw power at the heart of the beast
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8.0
74393
8.0 |
Uncut
Thrillingly primal and intuitive, with laser-cut drum patterns and hammered riffs. Print edition only
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8.0
74567
8.0 |
The 405
Whilst their spontaneity may have been tempered by their new ways of recording, their intensity and creativity remains very much intact
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7.7
74290
7.7 |
Earbuddy
It may not reach the heights of their seminal, mid-2000s work, but you’d be lying to call this a disappointment
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7.5
74278
7.5 |
Crack
Deadly in a way only Lightning Bolt could muster
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7.0
74175
7.0 |
Spin
Unlike the tinny wash of their earlier albums, Fantasy Empire never makes you feel like you're lost
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7.0
74647
7.0 |
No Ripcord
It is a tad disappointing that the band’s venture out of their comfort zone didn’t yield more sounds and songs that reflected this
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6.0
74281
6.0 |
PopMatters
This is a Lightning Bolt album, and if that is what you are looking for, you will not be disappointed
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