The Routes Lead Lined Clouds

THE ROUTES are back with “Lead Lined Clouds”, their 13th studio album, and their first vocal offering since 2021’s “Mesmerised”. Picking up where “Mesmerised” left off (with 4 instrumental albums being released between “Mesmerised” and “Lead Lined Clouds”), “Lead Lined Clouds” consists of ten original songs, tackling subjects such as austerity. old age, corruption, propaganda, social media and mental health. Whereas “Mesmerised” saw THE ROUTES very much in reverb-soaked psych territory, “Lead Lined Clouds” is a much more full-on sonic barrage. This album sees THE ROUTES tone down (but not turn down) the guitars to make room for the addition of organ, which is prominent throughout the album. As opposed to just sounding like your typical garage rock or garage punk band, the sound is diverted not only by the dissonant organ, but also the snarly unapologetically “British” vocals (which for this album are mostly spoken or shouted, as opposed to sung). TRACK LISTING A: