After releasing two classic albums in the early 2000s, The Libertines went on a hiatus for 10 years due many troubles, most notably Pete Doherty’s drug issues. For a time, they were front page news on UK music magazines for both good and bad reasons. In 2015 the reformed band teamed up with One Direction/Ed Sheeran producer Jake Gosling for the album Anthems For Doomed Youth. The album swings immediately with Pete and Carl Barat trading off verses with a knees up chorus on “Barbarians”. “Fame and Fortune” is a call to arms – “Like tin soldiers responding to the call/To Camden we will crawl”.
With a punk reggae sound, “Gunga Din” was the first single and the only song still in the band’s current set list, like several songs on the album, has a great singalong chorus. Quieter sides show on the piano driven “You’re My Waterloo” and set closer “Dead For Love”. The album is more front loaded with most of the better tracks showing up right away with the back end being good rather than great. The Libertine’s distinctive guitar sound and clever way with words show through on a solid return. This deluxe edition adds four extra tracks including rerecorded older demos.
7.5/10
The Light Appears 