Bastille creates the soundtrack to an "Apocalyptic Party" with Doom Days

Ranking: 7/10

The third studio album from Bastille shows off a different tone for the British band with upbeat tempos, uplifting lyrics and an underlying theme of living like there is no tomorrow.

Bastille is known for massive anthems with deep meaningful lyrics but have recently found chart success with their more radio-friendly song, Happier. It seems that they wanted to maintain this more popular sound with their newest album, foregoing the melancholic sound and opting for a more positive record. That being said, Doom Days still provides a sense of desperation and urgency ,as the title suggests, in that there is an existential dread throughout the album.

One thing Bastille always does well is storytelling through their lyrics and with this album it is even more apparent. Every song places you at a time during a night out with friends. The songs flow perfectly into one another and every track is meticulously placed to feel as though you spent the night partying with Bastille.

The opening track, Quarter Past Midnight, sets the tone for the evening with hopeful piano and urgent drums. The lyrics are also meaningful and deep despite the upbeat tempo. Songs like Bad Decisions and The Waves are not standout songs when looking at the rest of Bastille's discography but are good additions to the album nonetheless.

We want the bodies on the billboard not the lives underneath them

- Quarter Past Midnight

The album really comes to a head at the titular track. Doom Days, begins with a simple instrumentation and soft vocals. The song then builds continuously and really takes on a feeling of urgency as it draws to a close. The lyrics coupled with the urgent tone of the song really captures the existential theme of the album perfectly.

Think I'm addicted to my phone, my scrolling horror show.

- Doom Days

In its entirety this album is a great listen however individually some songs felt like it was missing something. Nocturnal Creatures is one of these tracks with straightforward lyrics and a forgettable instrumental. A Million Pieces went for a more EDM approach. A somber, acoustic version of this song was previously released on an EP. While that version was more impactful it wouldn't have made sense in the context of this album.

When comparing Doom Days to its predecessors it does leave much to be desired. Individually, the songs do not rise to the anthemic level of previous singles such as Pompeii and Send Them Off. However, Doom Days shines in that the theme is evident throughout the album which is something I personally really appreciate.

In a time where bad news is thrown in our faces constantly and the world seems to be in chaos, Bastille created an album we can play from start to finish to just forget it all. Doom Days is not the album we asked for but the one we desperately needed.