Kings Of Leon
Mechanical Bull

The excellent (at times brilliant) return of the Followill brothers comes across as a perfect mix of 70s/80s atmospheres (as in their debut album "Youth and Young Manhood") and a good dose of Arena Rock (like their gem "Only By the Night").
And after that dull (almost bleak) "Come Around Sundown," there was definitely a need to reconnect with the KOL.
An old-school rock in a modern key, then, "Supersoaker" (the first single released) is a clear example, along with "Rock City," "Wait for Me," and "Beautiful War."

The atmospheres are rather nocturnal, like those in "Only By the Night," but almost completely devoid of the commercial sound characteristic of that album which made them known worldwide.
In "Mechanical Bull," in fact, the KOL are much more relaxed, almost "free-reined" (both in the lyrics and in the arrangements), and it is precisely this easing of tension that characterizes the musicality of this record, in addition to Caleb's voice (warm and husky) and Matthew's guitar lines, which more prominently revive the Garage Rock style that had been set aside (but never completely vanished) in previous albums.

This much-anticipated "Mechanical Bull" doesn't actually bring any change of winds... why???... because there's absolutely no need!!! Followill's rock sounds great and then... fans have long been waiting for a return to the origins!!! (certainly one of the best chapters in the history of Kings of Leon).