Bush
's excellent 2020s winning streak continues with
I Beat Loneliness
. Though not as immediate as its 2022 predecessor,
The Art of Survival
,
is a different kind of triumph for
Gavin Rossdale
's long-running band. Digging its claws in after repeated listens, the result is a more nourishing experience that could have longer legs as time goes on. Taking the outward anger that made
Survival
so potent,
Rossdale
turns inward, focusing his energy on empowerment and tempered hope. It's often heavy, murky, and thick -- with some moments almost sounding like Y2K nu-metal -- which infuses the majority of the album with a tortured, frustrated energy. Kicking off with "Scars," the dichotomy between skull-crushing hard rock and vulnerable lyricism establishes itself, as
meets the sick and broken where they are. The defiant "The Land of Milk and Honey" turns a critical gaze onto modern society, while the sweeping string section on the title track adds heft and depth to amplify the power of
's lyrics as he sings, "I'm a silhouette/And I do my best/I beat loneliness." As the album progresses, digital production flourishes, towering riffs, and pounding drums electrify a quartet of highlights ("We're All the Same on the Inside," "I Am Here to Save Your Life," "60 Ways to Forget People," and "Love Me Till the Pain Fades"). While these harder-rocking songs are sure to jump out, it's the string of midtempo near-ballads on the second half that provides much-needed gravitas and heft, breaking through the haze to allow
's earnestness to shine through on the poignant "We Are of This Earth," "Everyone Is Broken," "Don't Be Afraid," and "Rebel with a Cause." It's hard to believe that this is no longer just a "comeback" after a shaky 2010s period; three catalog standouts into their fourth decade, and
have confirmed that they always have been a force to be reckoned with. ~ Neil Z. Yeung