For me, a lost thirteen year old transitioning from the shallow pool of pop-music into the depths of the indie music scene, The Cribs were the tidal wave that propelled me through the world of jangly guitar riffs and angst-fuelled lyrics.

With their first five albums practically acting as blueprints for how to make a perfect indie-rock album, I was anxious to hear if Gary, Ryan and Ross Jarman could remain on top of the indie-music pedestal.

From the dizzy heights of the thrashing guitar opener on the track ‘Finally Free,’ to the impassioned distorted vocals on ‘Simple Story,’ For All My Sisters proves to be another triumph for the three-piece from Wakefield.

Speaking about the new record, the band have said that it has been heavily influenced by 80s pop music and that describing the new album as ‘poppy’ is not “in any way being a dirty word.” The pop-music influence is clear on tracks such as ‘Different Angle’, with its anthemic, catchy and upbeat chorus and ‘An Ivory Hand’ where a charging guitar is matched with Gary’s rousing and nostalgic vocals.

Although the band has declared that “punk rock and indie are dead,” the record, somehow, seems to contradict this. There are definite reflections of past albums in the record; the commanding yet charming riffs and understated vocal performances are still prominent throughout, as are the reflective lyrics which prompt such passionate harmonies from gig-goers.

The album challenges the band’s refined formula without straying too far from previous works. The Cribs have proven that they are still an important band for any young, aspiring ‘indie-head’, and For All My Sisters is certainly an important port of call on this journey.

Olivia Marshall