The dark and brooding five-piece from Ohio are back with their first album since 2013 to once again make you feel a sense of overwhelming melancholy, inevitably followed by some nice introspective reflection.
Sleep Well Beast is everything you could ever want out of a National album and more. Sadness, singalongs, and Matt Berninger’s deep voice are all here, along with the ever-present sombre sound the group have made their own after almost 20 years of making music together.
That’s not to say that this album is full of tracks which just sound like other National tracks. I’ll Still Destroy You and Walk it Back both bring some synths and electronic drums to the table while Turtleneck is full of guitar riffs and crash cymbals. Lead single The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness is a classic and will be a likely set closer for the band for years to come. Everything works in perfect harmony with the builds, lulls, and crescendos, making this a standout and lead single for a reason.
This album is great played all the way through, but there’s so many great tracks here you could pick any few at random, play on repeat and still have a great time. An excellent addition to a back catalogue already bursting with classics, Sleep Well Beast is a must listen.
