Foals abandon skeletal math rock for something sonic, dynamic on What Went Down

Foals have long departed the skeletal, math-rock sound that filled their 2008 debut Antidotes. On their latest release, the Oxford natives show maturity and growth, as What Went Down displays their current state; an abundance of grit and intensity musters a fuller, more dynamic sound that feels fresh.

Lead singer Yannis Philippakis has stated he has tapped into his inner madman on their latest album. On the opening track, "What Went Down,” it’s obvious he does just that; shouting along with menacing instrumentals, “I’m a psychotic animal, I’m a psychotic fool,” making it Foals' heaviest song yet. Taming the mood a bit is "Mountain at My Gates,” as it does what Foals does best; gradually build-up and breakdown. The drumming from Jack Bevan grips the song tight as it dictates the temper from delighted to fierce. Build-ups and breakdowns are a common musical theme throughout the record, but songs like “Give It All” and “London Thunder” instrumentally put you in a trance as they prepare you for what’s to follow. “Snake Oil” mimics the Black Keys in its complexity, while “Night Swimmers” revisits an early Foals sound of dreamy, aquatic guitar and bass grooves that prance beside the shuffling drums that flooded their sophomore effort, Total Life Forever.

What Went Down satisfies in the fact that Foals alters their sound without alienating their prior selves. The playfulness remains intact with a hint of anger and depth, making it a great listen for the average listener, but maybe overindulgent to Foals’ hardcore fans.

• Album: What Went Down
• Artist: Foals
• Label: Warner Bros
• Songs: (1) What Went Down (2) Mountain at My Gates (3) Birch Tree (4) Give It All (5) Albatross (6) Snake Oil (7) Night Swimmers (8) London Thunder (9) Lonely Hunter (10) A Knife in the Ocean