“Our lyrics and our music will never be too-cool-forschool,” declares Maximo Park front man Paul Smith. “We are an emotional band, even if it might be too much information for some.”

Maximo Park releases to date have been intense and noisy affairs. Apparently, when recording material for a new EP, the band stumbled on a moodier and more atmospheric direction – and subsequently hit a richly prolific vein of form.

Maximo Park albums usually open with a ear-shredding monster, but ‘Give, Get, Take’ must be one of their poppiest outings. ‘Brain Cells’ introduces a beautiful electronic sound bubbling under Smith’s vocals. It’s well worth the thirty-second wait to obtain it as a free download.

Lead single ‘Leave This Island’ further refines this pleasing new Maximo Park sound. ‘Drinking Martinis’ is an album highlight, while – after a succession of quite dark songs – ‘I Recognise The Light’ is a marvelously empowering and uplifting tune.

Some of their hardcore fans may need convincing, but Sunderland’s Maximo Park are preaching, convincingly, to the unconverted here.