4/5 stars
It might not be long at all before there are no pop-punk bands left. The last few years have seen Turnover transition to dream-pop, Title Fight delve into shoegaze, and now Michigan natives Citizen are deviating from their established territory to see what awaits them on the other side.
Stylistically, Everybody Is Going To Heaven is far more versatile than its predecessor, 2013’s Youth. ‘Heaviside’ strips their sound down to shimmering post-rock guitar and whispered jazz brushes, while ‘Ten’ slithers along a steely bassline before moving in for the kill with a visceral chorus. It’s anyone’s guess as to where the album will take you next – and therein lies its appeal.
Citizen have made an active effort to push themselves into the further reaches of their sound – what was merely glanced upon in songs from Youth is transfixed upon here, marking an important and substantial development.Everybody Is Going To Heaven feels momentous. Admittedly, this direction will not instantly sit well with what people have come to know Citizen for in their time together thus far.
What Heaven requires is patience across repeated listens – once it clicks, it presents itself as one of the darkest, smartest and most vital alternative rock records of the year thus far.
Citizen’sEverybody Is Going To Heaven is out now through Run For Cover/Cooking Vinyl.
