Cursive - Devourer

While Cursive's output has been uniformly high for close to three decades, they're certainly experiencing something of a creative renaissance since 2018's 'Vitriola'. 'Devourer' continues the trend, mixing their high-concept ideas with their trademark abrasive indie-rock.

This time, apocalyptic visions are mixed with ruminations on the making of and consumption of art in a capitalist world.

By his own admission, lyricist Tim Kasher is a devourer of art and culture, but this means such ideas are rich pickings for exploration on a record. As such, it means 'Devourer' is a knotty, visceral listen, with Kasher's lens turned inwards as much as it is outwards.

It also makes for a frequently meta listen, with Kasher critiquing his own approach to art, especially on the brilliant 'Imposturing', which serves as a response to their 'Art is Hard' breakout, nicely deconstructed for the streaming age.

Now a seven-piece, 'Devourer' also sounds incredible. At times, it's like 'Cursive' are a lounge band living their finest jazz days, at others - like on the cello-led 'Consumers' and 'Rookie' - that they're the most vital post-hardcore survivalists still fighting and railing against the system.

It's rare for bands to still find themselves with important stuff to say when it comes to album number 10, but Cursive's dogmatic refusal to be pigeonholed and their frequently telling and prescient lyrics make them just as important as ever.