CIRCA WAVES delivered the soundtrack of the summer when they unleashed their debut album back in 2015. Catapulting them onto festival stages all over the UK, Young Chasers was a buoyant exercise in fizzing indie-pop that explored ideas of young love and lust through a breeze of sun-kissed melodies and catchy guitar riffs.

It seems that the four-piece have grown up a hell of a lot since then though. Shedding the skin of their previous record, Different Creatures does exactly what its title suggests and presents us with an entirely new beast of a band. Armed with a gritty determination and newfound swagger, everything is heavier, louder and more focused than before as they come to terms with the changing world around them through a more meaningful lens. Fuelled by a bristling sense of disenchantment, it effectively results in some of their biggest and boldest work to date.

Fitting then that the album should open with ‘Wake Up’, the very track that signalled the beginning of their transformation when it was released at the tail end of last year. Setting the tone for the entire album, it opens with a barrage of thunderous riffs and percussion before building up to an explosive chorus; instantly broadening their ramshackle indie-pop feel and guiding them into the more rugged sonic territories inhabited by the likes of Arctic Monkeys and Queens of the Stone Age.

Casting aside the summery melodies of their previous album in favour of scuzzy, distorted riffs and thought-provoking lyrics, they are able to touch on themes that are both deeply personal and relatable; all while demonstrating their renowned ability to produce infectious singalongs over an onslaught of guitars and upbeat rhythms. This time though a dark intensity bubbles away throughout, ensuring the tracks pack an even bigger punch when they finally explode with rabid urgency; as heard on the brilliantly anthemic ‘Fire That Burns’, the equally emphatic ‘Goodbye’ and the later bass-driven effort ‘A Night On The Broken Tiles’.

Alongside this new bolstered sound, Kieran Shudall writes from a more self-assured and personal perspective; tales of transition providing the focal point as they shift from one stage of their lives to another. While ‘Crying Shame’ and ‘Stuck’ consider the foibles of dysfunctional relationships and getting stuck in a rut against a backdrop of bouncy indie-rock, the title track ‘Different Creatures’ continues in the same vein but with a sharper political edge as Shudall considers the plight of Syrian refugees in today’s society. A clear demonstration of his new approach to songwriting, it’s a surprising and thought-provoking move that conveys desire to create something more meaningful and profound than the sun-kissed indie tunes that dominated their debut.

Similarly, the band also prove their mettle in some of their slower moments; the swelling ‘On My Own’ grapples with male anxiety and depression while the stripped back Doherty-esque ballad ‘Love’s Run Out’ is carried by Shudall’s sweet vocal performance. Elsewhere, ‘Old Friends’ provides further variation from the alt-rock onslaught; its gradual slow-burning power and wistful lyricism revealing a sense of deep-rooted regret that is nothing short of affecting.

Different Creatures may not be a ground-breaking record but it marks a significant step in the right direction for the Liverpool band. Blistering with energy from start to finish, it is bigger and bolder than its predecessor while still retaining that all-important radio-friendly appeal that will unleash them onto the masses. By flipping the lid and taking control of their own destiny, the band’s upwards trajectory looks set to continue in the years to come.