Kings of Leon
WALLS

Three years after the successful "Mechanical Bull," Kings Of Leon return with their seventh studio effort, titled "WALLS" (an acronym for "We Are Like Love Songs").

The main novelty is the change of producer: the historic Angelo Petraglia is out (with KOL since the splendid debut "Youth & Young Manhood"), and Markus Dravs is in, a highly esteemed producer already at work on the acclaimed debut of Mumford & Sons and on "The Suburbs" by Arcade Fire.

The main problem with the last two Kings Of Leon albums has undoubtedly been the uncertainty about what to become as they mature: after the first three albums highly appreciated in the UK but far from mainstream success, 2008's "Only By The Night," a great album launched by the mega-hit "Sex On Fire," changed the game and catapulted Caleb Followill and company into the most glamorous part of the star system. As soon as talk of "the new U2" began, problems ensued, primarily due to an identity crisis that led the band to take two half-steps back like the mediocre successor "Come Around Sundown" and the more focused "Mechanical Bull."

Now it's time to decide, and the decision is made, perhaps precisely thanks to the aforementioned Dravs: away with the fears and hesitation to turn, the shift is decisively towards a dense and inspired stadium rock, while still attempting to maintain the points of contact with the southern roots of the American band. In this sense, the lead single "Waste A Moment" is not at all misleading: with its captivating pace and chorus full of pure epicness, it's a veritable "Sex On Fire" part two, a very clear declaration of intent. The same can be said for tracks like "Reverend" (beautiful), "Over" (already presented live, where KOL finally play at being U2 without sounding excessively derivative), and the gem "WALLS," the title track that plays the card of quiet intimacy (easily played with Caleb Followill's excellent vocals) based on acoustic guitar and few piano touches. Quiet that also influences "Conversation Piece" and the quirky calypso experiment of "Muchacho."

Elsewhere, they also press a bit on the accelerator: "Find Me" is the most incisive riff of the record, "Around The World" enjoys a funky vibe, while "Eyes On You" reconciles with the group's southern roots, but without overdoing it.

A decent album, this "WALLS," which at least has the merit of definitively positioning the musical offer of Kings Of Leon on a precise track and thus laying the foundations for a possible future development of the band's proposal. It would really be a shame to stop here.

Best track: WALLS