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Some people like tomato sauce but don’t like tomatoes. Some people like mashed potato but not new potatoes. They are made of the same thing but yet the palettes can not take in the variations. Some people like Indie-Rock music, but they don’t like the Kaiser Chiefs. Tastes change and grow and eventually your palettes alter becoming more accustomed to the more mature flavours and/or textures. The same could be said on the ‘Chiefs latest album, The Future is Medieval. I was not a fan before but now I am.

Now they’ve gone through to their 4th LP after a gap of almost 3 years they appear to be back refreshed, revitalised and very much full of new material. 20 new tracks fill up the digital release so they have definitely been stock piling their work.

Their most popular release to date would be the track Ruby which I absolutely can not stand. I believe the term is known as “overkill”. It was bled to death and played everywhere constantly for what seemed to be an eternity and to be fair, it did the band very well indeed. Exposure is what musicians crave and they most certainly got that. Fortunately on this album, there is not one annoying song at all nor is their one that has the potential to be.

As soon as Back In December begins, the bassline hook and bluesy guitar riff catches you immediately. It then progresses into a big sing-a-long chorus that will gather the listening crowds together in unison. That’s what the ‘Chiefs seem to do very well. Anthemic chorus lines.

Listening further to the album there are stark similarities to Duran Duran. This will mainly be due to Ricky Wilson‘s vocal style. It is not a bad thing at all. In fact, I mean that complimentary.

There are not any big, “let’s start of revolution” kind of tracks. There is less flamboyance here than on previous works. It is still present yet with additional composure and more advancement. I am guessing that they want to be taken far more seriously. I Predict A Riot was ballsy and a little out-there. It was their first record so it had to cause some attention. When listening to Coming Up For Air you experience a much more experienced band. A refined and chilled out Indie ballad with some ivories being twinkled, background vocal harmonies and a very softly spoken, almost hidden statement mentioned in behind the long instrumental section that you’ll have to listen out for. Cousin In The Bronx is full of sound effects and layered with city noises giving you the image in your mind that you are actually there on the sidewalks being sung to by the band. Dead Or In Serious Trouble is more like their old selves. Slightly punked and rebellious but very well produced and controlled. The drumming is full, frantic and beserk but still fantastically governed. Heard It Break takes you back to the early 80′s when the crossover between the punk-rock era fuses together with the beginnings of the electronica genres. If You Will Have Me catches you out entirely. Totally off-beat from the other tracks. A sweet acoustic number with encouraging cellos and adorable, devout lyrics. Little Shocks – below – is the one which is all classic Kaiser Chiefs. Every band member giving it their all with full attention and energy. Very Joy Division indeed. Problem Solved once again is more on the punk side with wondrous, poetic speeches, dark basslines and punchy guitars. Things Change – below – is David Bowie all over.

There are two faces to this album. Punk and Indie. It is marvellously mingled and it shows diversity.

From B-Unique Records and released through Polydor, The Future Is Medieval by Kaiser Chiefs is out now in Europe and soon to be everywhere else.

Things Change by Kaiser Chiefs