Hymns
by Bloc Party
User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 69 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 69
  3. Negative: 19 out of 69
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  1. Duke_Challenger
    Jan 29, 2016
    2
    "The Love Within" would have been a good starting point for an album that got crazier and crazier with interesting guitar effects as it went on. Instead, it is as experimental (which is saying that much since the song sounds like a standard EDM song) as the album gets, and the album only gets duller and slower.

    The only standouts on the album (since basically all the songs are slow    "The Love Within" would have been a good starting point for an album that got crazier and crazier with interesting guitar effects as it went on. Instead, it is as experimental (which is saying that much since the song sounds like a standard EDM song) as the album gets, and the album only gets duller and slower.

    The only standouts on the album (since basically all the songs are slow ballads) are probably "Fortress" and "Exes." They stood out for their lyrics and Kele's singing.

    The last song "Living Lux" sounds a lot like "Ion Square" and has some more experimental, subtle guitar effects. But they come and go, never repeating.    … Expand
  2. elmarko
    Jan 29, 2016
    0
    This album is dreadful and an insult to the Bloc Party name.

    Bloc Party released four incredible and influential albums.

    Hymns is not only uninspiring, but unbearable.
  3. Exhodius
    Jan 29, 2016
    0
    It's okay to change style and do some other kind of track, but sometime you also have to think about your fans and not only doing what you like... Why ? Because it is a passion AND a job !
    I would have liked to have just 1 or 2 tracks reminding the good old BP, but even 1 or 2 is too much.

    I will just forget this album and wait.
  4. JoshGreen98
    Feb 15, 2016
    2
    A couple of weeks on from the release of Bloc Party’s fifth album, I have collected my thoughts on a career defining album following the changes in style due to a band reshuffle.

    First I must state, that for any fan of garage or the more ‘punk’ sound this is not the album for you. Bloc Party seem to have let go of thrashy street sound that has been a theme throughout their albums of    A couple of weeks on from the release of Bloc Party’s fifth album, I have collected my thoughts on a career defining album following the changes in style due to a band reshuffle.

    First I must state, that for any fan of garage or the more ‘punk’ sound this is not the album for you. Bloc Party seem to have let go of thrashy street sound that has been a theme throughout their albums of yesteryear. No longer will we hear the pure raging guitar sound of Bloc Party favourites such as ‘Helicopter’ or ‘We are not good people’. The departure of drummer Matt Tong has obviously had it’s repercussions on the sudden change of style employed by Okereke.

    There is a certain 'loss of urgency' in the new style, which won't please old school Bloc Party lovers. This is down to the much more downbeat lyrics used in the new album. Altogether their music has shifted down a couple of gears, and for me that is a huge shame.

    The opening track ‘The Love Within’ is a powerful opening track, stating their intents for the future. It is obvious from the start which band member has departed due to the lack of heavy bass. A much substantial influence from the dance/pop scene is used in this track, and for me, got the album off to a rocky start.
    Immediately when a early released track appears on my Spotify feed I usually jump for joy, but as ‘The Good News’ popped up a couple of weeks before the album release I held back. Knowing that a change in style was imminent I listened with little expectation. Despite not resembling anything produced before by the London group, it gave me a pleasant surprise. It doesn’t stand up to the popularity of previous records but offers a different sound. With a pinch of blues influenced mixed with a lethargic rhythm it is the only track of the album of jumps out at me.

    The final thing I will pick up on is the spiritual element of the album. Kele Okereke has denied these claims, although surely even the title justifies it. Aside from that, this is an album I wouldn’t recommend, it goes against all that Bloc Party have produced in the past 11 years, unless you able to accept the change, this album is a total disappointment,    … Expand
  5. Lobbyist3
    Apr 19, 2018
    1
    This album is so unremarkably boring. None of its tracks are memorable other than "Into The Earth", for one line in its first verse is extremely telling of Okereke's direction on this album. "...rock and roll has got so old" is the mantra of this record. I agree with the sentiment of user Ricko in that Hymns is all Okereke and no Bloc Party. I ponder what the other members of the band wereThis album is so unremarkably boring. None of its tracks are memorable other than "Into The Earth", for one line in its first verse is extremely telling of Okereke's direction on this album. "...rock and roll has got so old" is the mantra of this record. I agree with the sentiment of user Ricko in that Hymns is all Okereke and no Bloc Party. I ponder what the other members of the band were doing during production, or if they even showed up to the studio at all. Bloc Party has completely strayed from any semblance of its roots, and is now producing scattered pseudo-trance lullabies.… Expand
  6. alxmsn
    Jul 16, 2020
    3
    I've given up on Bloc Party. Their debut album was so promising, full of rage, passion, energy, kickass tunes... What happened??
  7. NightVisions
    Jan 31, 2023
    3
    Kele sounds likes he's trying to steal the show from the instruments with the most unenthusiastic singing yet. The music is completely fine. Other bands made Hymns already and they done it better.
    I respect them for trying something new but it seems like they were winging it to much and were not playing into their individual strengths.
    Into the Earth is catchy at least. Only He Can    Kele sounds likes he's trying to steal the show from the instruments with the most unenthusiastic singing yet. The music is completely fine. Other bands made Hymns already and they done it better.
    I respect them for trying something new but it seems like they were winging it to much and were not playing into their individual strengths.

    Into the Earth is catchy at least. Only He Can Heal Me is a song that I respect but get bored halfway through, but I can see someone enjoying this album just not for me.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

62
#62 Most Discussed Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 29
  3. Negative: 2 out of 29
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Mar 17, 2016
    40
    Lacking the band's prior specificity, too much of the album languishes in uncommitted sprawl.
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  2. No Ripcord
    Feb 16, 2016
    40
    The problem with Hymns is that it chugs along with a series of stilted niceties that lack any kind of rhythm or emotion.
    Read full review
  3. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Feb 8, 2016
    20
    It's such a musically bare record. "Into The Earth" is the only song that feels like a rock song and it's also very soft and drab. So many songs riff off the same synth beats that HYMNS end up being a contemplative session that puts you to sleep as opposed to prodding at your mind.
    Read full review
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