8/10

Ever since they arrived with their stunning debut effort 'Know' back in 2017, London-based outfit Sad Boys Club have sat as one of the more exciting names on the UK's indie-rock scene. In the years since, they have turned out a flurry of EP and single releases that have only added fuel to their electrifying fire, creating a wave of buzz and acclaim that very few manage at such an early point in their career. And after a run of impressive gems this past year, they now finally deliver their long-awaited debut album 'Lullabies From The Lightning Tree', a record that cements their progressive legacy to date.

In the years prior to this offering, Sad Boys Club have been spreading their creative wings, usually adopting new and diverse ideas into their musical mix in search of a distinctive sound to call their own. And it is on 'Lullabies From The Lightning Tree' that we get to appreciate the eclectic blend they have been concocting all this time. While very much honing a breezy indie-rock vibe throughout this new collection, there are glimmers of pop, post-punk, and alt-rock all adding a familiar flair to their direction, resulting in a wonderfully adventurous listen that still manages to hold a driven and succinct thread throughout.

It may have come after six years of grinding away at themselves, but 'Lullabies From The Lightning Tree' is a well-rounded and confident initial full-length that perfectly elevates their vibrant aesthetic. Sad Boys Club may have been sitting on the peripheries of the scene since they began, but this release feels like the catalyst that will send them closer mainstream appreciation than ever before.