7/10
With the illustrious honour of headlining Glastonbury Festival quickly approaching, Leeds-based rock outfit Kasabian return with more high-impact anthems expected to be hollered around football stadiums for years to come. Now onto their fifth full-length, the imaginatively titled '48:13' sees them embarking on a more danceable record than anything that has come before and showcases exactly why they have managed to remain relevant after all these years.
'48:13', named after the album's running time, is unlike any other Kasabian album you are likely to have heard. While the record does flash at glimpses of the past sound, with 'Doomsday' cutting that familiar big beat and fuzzed-guitar combo, much of this new release focuses at a much faster tempo and the result is a pleasant and at times, enjoyable listen. The lead single 'ez eeh' perfectly demonstrates the fusion of electronic dance and pop-rock that sits at the centre of this album's interest as '48:13' is more about showing a lighter side to Kasabian's sound and help them from falling into the trap of just making the same record over and over again.
It may not sit well with their incredibly devout fanbase, but as a new record in 2014, it ticks all the boxes of a band looking to push themselves into new challenges and the result is better than you might imagine.