Titus Andronicus have always made rock exposition cinematic and theatrical through the most artistic, creative veins of freedom and expression a band could carve out. Their jarring storytelling is one of the key drivers with lyrics that unfold as the most intertwining and testing of chapters. Safe to say, they’re quite an experience. The Most Lamentable Tragedy follows suit and continues to expound on how they see the world. Is it their best to date? No. But it fits perfectly with the enormous catalog of stories they craft time after time, touching on so many threads from existentialism to death to rebirth, which definitely makes them worth appreciating.
As usual, it’s an eclectic mix with varying sounds mashing together. Titus have always been sleekly versatile without never really losing their essence. In doing so, most of their songs per record feel differentiated from each other and it’s this clever assembly/arrangement that reels you in, engrossing you in a band that’s never dwarfed by any influences but are still paying just tribute to what grooms their sound. “Lonely Boy” and “Stranded (On My Own)” are the melodic, raspy, indie-anthems you’d come to expect. Very motivated and focused. Patrick Stickles maintains his frantic, anxious and highly urgent sensibility on the mic to keep the tension painted on the wall, which makes something like “Look Alive” pop even more. Sure, it’s a Hüsker Dü tribute, but as with so many of their music, they totally make it their own.
Some of the tracks are too long. But that’s expected given how they love to flesh things out. It drops at a good time also, with mewithoutYou’s recent record sure to bring in comparisons. Both are worth it, I might add. Titus Andronicus’ however, has more of an emblematic feel and more of a signature, which smartly caps their body of work. Some tracks feel boring but overall, this is another intuitive record that feels like a piece of literature that they constantly peddle at your doorstep. Open the door and let them in. Flawed? Yes. But much more positives at hand.
3.5 / 5 Stars