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The Cure - The Cure

Although rumours of the Cure's demise circulated after 2000's 'Bloodflowers', and even frontman Robert Smith claimed the group was finished on numerous occasions, the revered post-punk band remained united, and released this self-titled album in 2004. Expertly timed to follow the excellent 'Join The Dots' rarities box set and ride a wave of adoration from hip, younger bands, 'The Cure' marks a new chapter for the goth-rockers, while incorporating many of the quartet's key sonic elements. Though Smith doesn't seem inclined to write lighter pop ditties on par with 'The Lovecats' or 'Let's Go to Bed', he's still happy to pen gloomy, distortion-filled rock songs and atmospheric mood pieces.

Co-producer Ross Robinson (Korn, Slipknot) makes his presence known by amping up the guitars, most notably on the reverb-heavy 'Before Three', the fierce 'Us or Them', and the epic closer 'The Promise'. Marked by tinges of Middle-Eastern music, the slowly building 'Labyrinth' hearkens back to the band's gloriously bleak 1982 album, 'Pornography'.

Of course, Smith can't resist the occasional upbeat melody, particularly on the dynamic single 'The End of the World' and the buoyant, keyboard-driven 'Taking Off'. Twenty-five years after the group's first album, 'The Cure' sees Smith and his bandmates in fine form and ready to win over another generation of fans.