Madina Lake are a band that polarises opinion on websites such as this. For some people they’re a bit of a fad, a band that cash in on fashionable trends and play lowest common denominator pop-rock that’s offensively inoffensive. For others they’re the type of band that end up as a guilty pleasure; songs catchier than a bout of MRSA on a hospital ward with a couple of poster-boy pin-ups to adorn your bedroom wall. In the same way You Me At 6 split music fans, Madina Lake are a kind of Marmite band too – you love ’em or you hate ’em. There’s not really any middle ground.
On the last record I found it wildly inconsistent. ‘House of Cards’ and the other singles were very, very strong and cemented the band’s place on magazine covers across the world. But the rest of the album was pretty poor. ‘Attics To Eden’ is a much more consistent beast. And, hush it quietly, it’s actually pretty good. I’ll be frank, I didn’t expect this album to be quite as good as it is. I expected the same two or three strong singles and then fluff to fill the album out. But Madina Lake have gone away and penned 12 pretty solid songs. I think people will be surprised at just how good this record is.
‘Never Takes Us Alive’ is a great way to open the album. It’s a strong riff and an even stronger chorus and while it’s very slick and well produced, that’s what Madina Lake need to be. You cannot play this type of music and not be lush-sounding. Each of the 12 songs sticks to a similar structure, sticking to the old adage ‘if it ain’t broke…’ ‘Never Walk Alone’ and ‘Legends’ are also really strong. The trick the band repeat is to make the choruses big enough to sing along to – and while the formula isn’t groundbreaking or particularly original, it simply works.
‘Attics To Eden’ will undoubtedly further polarize the band and I can’t see the haters suddenly falling in love with them. But take this for what it is and it’s a good radio-rock album. It’s much better than the previous full-lengther with stronger singles and more consistency. Expect Kerrang! covers and Radio 1 airplay – the summer’s going to belong to Madina Lake.