7/10

After the firing of frontman Tom Meighan in 2020 amid his domestic assault conviction, it felt like Kasabian was practically dead and buried. With their previous LP 'For Crying Out Loud' in 2017 failing to live up to their bold and inventive reputation, the writing was on the wall for one of the UK's biggest indie-rock outfits. But with guitarist Serge Pizzorno very much the engine behind their sound over the years, the urgency to step up and be the leader the group needed was entirely necessary, and so they make their comeback with 'The Alchemist's Euphoria', a record that sees them search for a reinvention.

Prior to their fallout, Kasabian were regularly headlining festival stages around the world, and their output was beginning to reflect the need for broad and euphoric anthems to justify those big events. But with 'The Alchemist's Euphoria', it feels like they are harking back to the adventurous direction of their early days and returning with something that fits them more comfortably. While the big and blistering textures remain throughout this new collection, there is this consistent drive that keeps the inventive flair burning bright throughout, giving us a fresh and powerfully engaging listen.

It may feel like a bold step into the unknown when compared to their previous work, but 'The Alchemist's Euphoria' shows more inventive spirit than we have heard from them in more than a decade. Kasabian could have been over at this point, but it almost feels like they are just beginning the start of something new.