The 69 Eyes - Universal Monsters

I’ve never hidden my preference for The 69 Eyes over the years and I’ve been following the band since their early 00s days. Now four years after “X”, they are back with their new studio album. “X” wasn’t a great album but it featured 2-3 amazing tracks. Well, you see the case with “Universal Monsters” is that it is not very cohesive song-wise and it does not also feature any “very atmospheric/catchy” tracks – I think “Jerusalem” could have been one of these tracks but it doesn’t manage to do so eventually. The album is fine on the whole but it’s not nowhere near the band’s great albums.
 
The production is superb and exhales a dark gothic atmosphere on the whole. It’s true that The 69 Eyes have held the gothic rock flame up high all these years and they are consistent at what they do. Apart from that I do believe they have a lot more to offer and sooner or later they will totally “rediscover” their roots and they will come up with a really strong album.
 
I’m not implying that you won’t enjoy this album and some specific tracks out of it but it cannot be compared to the “old” gothic works of the band. The fact that they stay true to their sound and gothic music all these years is very important. Either way you see it, The 69 Eyes are one of the most significant gothic rock bands of our time…