8/10

When the Tunbridge Wells punk duo first emerged as Slaves back in 2015 with their debut LP 'Are You Satisfied?', they were quickly heralded as a new beginning for the UK's alternative scene. Mixing hard and heavy riffs with a distinctive radio-friendly edge, they quickly continued their legacy with the follow-up offerings 'Take Control' and 'Acts Of Fear And Love', both of which continued to push the boundaries of their aesthetic throughout. But with more than six years since their last release, they now return as Soft Play to deliver their long-awaited fourth studio album 'HEAVY JELLY', a record that begins the next phase in their musical journey.

While their name change certainly drudged up a lot of indifference from their own fanbase, the pair have confronted this with their own humorous flair on its lead single 'Punk's Dead', an offering that sets the tone for this new collection. While their Slaves era was more about bold and brash energy, these Soft Play tracks feel far more self-aware and self-referential, showing that they barely care about what anyone thinks of them. This attitude shines through each of these new outings as they look to make this new moniker their most impactful to date.

While it has been quite a while since their last pieces of material, 'HEAVY JELLY' sees them return with all the tenacity we have loved them for. It may have lost that rustic appeal they first emerged with, but Soft Play look to continue that innovative direction their original incarnation set the standard for.