Existential rock for oldies

90s rock band The Afghan Whigs have formed and reformed, but one thing remains the same: the soul of their sound. On their tenth studio album, Soft Control, Greg Dulli and co. prove that they can maintain their old sound all while putting out new work. 

The opening track “Jungle Roux” builds the tension for the album till it explodes in a booming chorus. Dulli’s voice brings the grit, matched by the raw, expressive guitar tones the production of the track utilizes. “House of I” was the first of the new songs, their comeback track to the scene. It has their classic sound and is the perfect uptempo banger to burst back into the scene with. The next track, “Duvateen”, has a calmer, lighter melody contrasted by the moody, dark lyrics about mortality.

Next on the record is an emotional track called “My Lover.” The horns utilized on “The Deepest Part of the Darkest Shadow” create a standout sound for this part of the album, which, alongside other soaring instrumentals, gives the track a perfect Americana sound. “Mariah Luster” further demonstrates the depths this album contains. Their production and instrumentation choices remain bold on “Memphis, Texas.”

The production on “77” is even fuller, a track full of optimism. “Loose talk” contains a passionate chorus that breaks down into a soft piano in the outro. It leads into the quiet closing track, “A Simulation.” “A Simulation” is a penultimate closing track, existential and ambient. 

Soft Control is a classically 90s rock album with poignant themes of mortality and existentialism. The band remains as raw and gritty as ever on their tenth studio album.