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★★★☆ On their third album, Deafheaven turn up every conceivable figurative dial. And happily, that includes turning up The Metal. Technically, Deafhaven are as black and shoegazey as they’ve ever been. But there’s also something new here: crisp riffs occasionally bobbing on the surface. This album is also 15 minutes shorter than their last effort, which works in everyone’s favor. The only negative here is George Clarke’s monotonous screeching, which in the context of the otherwise improved Deafheaven sound goes from ignorable to ill-advised. But all in all, a surprising improvement for the band.

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