By Default is grounded in melody and greater vocal interplay between Russell Marsden and Emma Richardson.
Having set up in a church to write the songs, the band retains little of that airy environment and garage-rock rawness here.
Perhaps it's Gil Norton's polished production, but Band of Skulls isn't letting the bombast of a rock trio in full flight obscure its tightest set of commercially savvy tunes yet.
So, By Default is not so much a new era, but a synth-addled reworking of its '70s blues-rock styling, with killer riffs.
• Band of Skulls. By Default. BMG.
• Three and a half stars (out of five)
Single download: Bodies
For those who like: Foo Fighters, Foals, Depeche Mode
- Mark Orton
