Album Review: White Lies - Ritual

White Lies released their debut album, To Lose My Life, in 2009 to instant success. The London three-piece became the first British act in 2009 to achieve a number one album, beating established American acts such as Kings Of Leon and Lady Gaga in the process. Their debut was certainly one of the most impressive albums of the year, and reinforced the potential suggested by their appearance in BBC’s Sound of 2009 poll.

However, whilst their debut was well-received, White Lies’ dark, melancholic sound led to them being compared – unsurprisingly – with the host of bands emanating from the seminal Joy Division, such as Editors and Interpol. Whilst it’s unfair in many ways to critique a band because of their influences; Harry McVeigh’s deep voice matched with the bands’ lyrics about life and death, meant the comparisons were inevitable. So, how does White Lies’ second effort, Ritual, compare to the debut album? Do White Lies cast away their dark, foreboding sound and revert to Vampire Weekend-like glossy tunes?


No. Definitely not. Why change a formula that suited them so well on their first outing? Ritual is essentially more of the same, bar some intriguing electronic touches, which if anything, only adds more intensity to the sound. Opening song ‘Is Love’ chugs away for a while, eventually building into one of White Lies’ trademark choruses. The song encapsulates everything that makes the White Lies so listenable, with that constant feeling the band are building up to something big, ready to release one of those irresistibly catchy choruses.

‘Strangers’ follows in the same vein, with its big expansive guitars and McVeigh belting out the chorus, “I’ve got a sense of urgency, I’ve gotta make this happen”. The first single from Ritual, ‘Bigger Than Us’, further emphasises White Lies’ ability to craft hugely captivating choruses. In fact, the band was recently quoted as saying that they “want Kings Of Leon’s career”, and this is clearly evident with their second album. Full of five minute plus songs – there are six in total – sprawling, stadium-filling guitars and epic, noisy choruses, this album has all the hallmarks of a band that want to be selling-out big arenas.



This is not necessarily a problem, as such; however, by the time ‘The Power & The Glory’ comes along it feels rather repetitive, even formulaic. Evidence that suggests they are too eager to emulate Kings Of Leon’s success – who they toured with at the back end of 2009. Yet, White Lies redeem themselves once again with the shorter, slower groove of ‘Bad Love’, a song with yet another addictively catchy chorus.

Overall, Ritual is another very accomplished album by White Lies. From start to finish, the album sounds like a band that has been around for much longer than two albums. It’s certainly a solid follow-up to the band’s debut album, although it lacks the subtleties of To Lose A Life, with the lyrics often being swallowed up in the surrounding synths, fuzzy guitars, and the several other layers that abound from each track. White Lies have aimed high with Ritual, and for the most part it works, but they will undoubtedly need to add more diversity to their sound in order reach the headliner status they so crave.

3.5/5