8/10

After BANKS first introduced herself as the pinnacle name in the future pop movement with her debut record 'Goddess' back in 2014, she has barely had a quiet moment. Her omnipotent presence since then has been down to a string of constant tour dates and, since the early summer, promotion for this new album. Prior to this release, the frontwoman had put out four singles from the new full-length, giving us a great impression of what to expect on here long before we heard the whole thing. Something that intrigued us as much as anything else.

While there is little progression between the sound of this album and 'Goddess', what 'The Altar' does have is a more refined style. While her debut was impressive throughout, it lacked a fixed direction and focus, teething problems that have been fully flushed out of this new release. 'The Altar' is a masterstroke in modern production and her voice seems to have grown tenfold in strength since we last heard her, showing that this new record is more than just a follow-up; it is an ascension.

'The Altar' is a forward-thinking evolution to the BANKS sound, something that many artists attempt but fail to see through. This record shows that the songstress is firmly on the right path and has cemented herself as one of this decade's most essential listens.