The English stadium rockers' third studio long-player and first outing for Virgin/EMI,
Ones and Zeros doubles down on the more mainstream aspects of 2012's
Bones, while introducing some progressive elements into the band's arsenal. More
Killers and
Imagine Dragons than
Lostprophets and
Muse, the 11-track set bristles with kinetic flourishes of anthemic California electropop, yet retains enough Anglo-alt-rock backbone to garner at least a cursory nod from the hard rock crowd. These are songs meant to be consumed in large open-air festivals amidst a sea of tattered wrist bands, glassy eyes, and plastic cups, with highlights arriving via the rousing "Speaking in Tongues" and the equally spirited "Memento Mori" and "Daylight." ~ James Christopher Monger