The Beta Band are back with their trademark sound still firmly in tact. Don't be fooled by the album title, "From Heroes To Zeros" will certainly appease the Beta Band's current fan basen though it is unlikely to strengthen it to any significant degree.

The word that comes to mind when I listen to it is 'chilled'. Of course there's plenty to hold the attention for those who know what they are looking for, the interplay of sound and rhythm is as expert as ever, but with the exception of a few explosive moments on the album it largely ambles forward at a nice pace for an album to have on while you sit in the garden with your chosen beverage.

Which kind of proves to be the main weakness of the album as well. There are too many songs that rely vocally on the repetition of a single line which becomes greatly irritating after a few attentive listens. There really is nothing that reaches out and grabs the listener, nothing that really makes you want to listen to it again. It's pleasant but that's all it is.

I'd recommend a listen to anyone but I doubt that it's worth a purchase by anyone other than those who have tried The Beta Band (or Elbow the two seem to be turning into the same band sometimes) and already know they like what they're going to get.