THE LUKA STATE
More Than This (Thirty Tigers)
If the Luka State had appeared in the late 90s or early 00s with this kind of production, they would undoubtedly be a breath of fresh air, bringing noise and the occasional unexpected dissonance to a mainstream stadium rock sound. It’s not surprising that More Than This’ producers have worked with Pixies, Muse and You Me At Six, and this mix is a great fit for the band, with vocals that shift somewhere between Oasis, Stereophonics, The Strokes and Fall Out Boy. The mishmash of these influences brings very little original recognisability but a lot of energy and even a touch of nostalgia.
Kudos to these guys for lyrics that address foodbanks, anxiety and addiction – and their counterparts in compassion, empathy and self-awareness. Again, it’s nothing too original, but delivered with fiery enthusiasm. More Than This is an album to identify with and sing along to in a sweaty venue somewhere – maybe a small stadium, eventually, if they’re lucky.
words ISABEL THOMAS
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