On Friday, Nov. 1, English rock band The Cure released their 14th studio album, Songs of A Lost World. Quintessentially on theme with their past music releases, The Cure sticks to its familiar, melancholy, doom-and-gloom indie tone. Songs of A Lost World marks The Cure’s first studio album release since 2008. 

The band formed in 1978, and the lineup of members has continually changed since then, with lead vocalist and guitarist Robert Smith being the only original and constant member as of 2024. Other current members include long-time bassist Simon Gallup, keyboardists Roger O’Donnell and Perry Bamonte, drummer Jason Cooper, and guitarist Reeves Gabrels. 

The Cure released their debut album, Three Imaginary Boys, in 1979, establishing the band’s iconic punk sound. The band released their eighth studio album, Disintegration, in 1989, which garnered widespread attention from fans, going on to be named one of Apple Music’s Best 100 Albums. The Cure’s ninth studio album Wish, released in 1992, sold over 1.2 million copies, further solidifying the band’s growing fan base. 

Songs of A Lost World includes eight tracks, which all uphold a slow build quality with Smith’s vocals breaking in after several minutes of instrumentals have passed. While some of the songs veer into repetitive and monotonous territory, part of the album’s allure is it’s somehow tranquil yet punk, balanced on some tracks and out of balance on others. 

The third track of the album, “And Nothing Is Forever,” showcases artfully inspiring lyrics. Though its intro is excessively long and dramatic, the lyrics, which kick in nearly three minutes in, are beautifully constructed and rooted in sadness. “I know, I know /That my world has grown old / And nothing is forever,” Smith sings in the chorus. As Smith sings about running out of time, the dramatized instrumentals and patient tempo make for a ballad-like song, adding a comforting feel to an otherwise heartbreaking track.

The album’s sixth track, “I Can Never Say Goodbye,” packs soft instrumentals and complex themes into six minutes and three seconds. While many of the album’s tracks are long, “I Can Never Say Goodbye” is one of the few that manages to capture listeners’ attention for its entire duration. Singing “Something wicked this way comes / I can never say goodbye,” the song’s lyrics delicately unpack themes of grief and loss. With similar auditory tones of gothic punk that connect to The Cure’s previous work, “I Can Never Say Goodbye” stands out as a nostalgic listen on the album.

The eighth and final track of the album, “Endsong,” is a whopping 10 minutes and 23 seconds long. While “Endsong” pointedly captures The Cure’s unnecessary affinity for overly long intros, the rest of the song remains impressive. “Endsong” intricately incorporates passion and patience into the lyrics and instrumentals, ending the album on a dramatic and depressing note. During the song’s outro, Smith sings, “Left alone with nothing at the end of every song / Left alone with nothing, nothing,” to close out the track and the album on a disheartened note.

While the album doesn’t compare to The Cure’s past masterpieces released in the height of their career, Songs of A Lost World earns the title of a nostalgic throwback album for the band’s longtime fans to enjoy. Though The Cure faced impossible expectations, they delivered a comforting album that tackles themes of loss, grief, and the concept of time, earning 2.5 out of five feathers.

This story was originally published on The Pitch on November 10, 2024.