ALBUM REVIEW: Reverend and the Makers – ‘Mirrors’

mirrors reverend and the makers

Reverend and the Makers could have arguably had their time in the spotlight with their 2007 album, The State of Things, which was a huge success. It was this album that launched them into indie stardom but, much like the mid-2000’s indie scene, they sort of fizzled out and people stopped caring about them or their music. Until now that is.

Mirrors is probably their best album yet. It still carries the attitude you’d expect from the Sheffield band, but it feels like they’ve done their research. “What do people want from us?” is probably a question they asked themselves in the studio. A question Jon McClure most likely answered, “fuck ’em, let’s do what we want”. Which is exactly what Mirrors feels like; an album made by the band for the band. And it works. Because that’s what people want from them.

Mirrors runs together not so much seamlessly as breathlessly. For example, the unusually smooth transitions from the psychedelic opener ‘Amsterdam’ to the stomping, all-out riff assault of ‘Black Widow’. But the album doesn’t shy away from changing the tone either; adding in a choir and string elements it also tackles personal issues head on with Mclure singing “Everyone I know is making babies – what about us?” on ‘Makin’ Babies’, of course.

Both ‘Blue’ and ‘Stuck On You’ are also great fun. The former a bright-eyed rock’n’roll retread, and the latter bursting with bolshy brass and simple melody. The ride continues with ‘Mr Glasshalfempty’ riding a bass-line strut into the world of cool with an epic and explosive chorus, a song reminiscent of the glory days of indie. If at this point you’re not satisfied then there’s still time to be with the track ‘My Mirror’ and the closing track ‘Lay Me Down’. Both tracks are easily worthy of Kasabian and have enough grit to impress Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Reverend and the Makers have come out swinging with their fifth LP, while showing the rock world they still have plenty to offer and have no plans of disappearing anytime soon.

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