Unfortunately everything’s not magic after all.

Guitarist David Kennedy told Bandidge last week he was concerned with what people think of his band Angels and Airwaves, and on this evidence he should be.

When the lead single from I-Empire, Everything’s Magic was released at the end of last month, many fans worried that AVA had left behind the atmospheric sound that made We Don’t Need to Whisper such a success. Fortunately however that’s not entirely the case.

On first listen such fears could almost be realised with opening track Call to Arms seemingly being a link between the bands’ debut album and this one. It slowly leaves behind the synthesizers and keyboards we’ve become accustomed to and replaces them with heavier leading guitars.

With this transformation comes the most noticeable and disappointing change of them all - lead singer Tom DeLonge’s lyrics. Gone are the melodic and deep yearnings of a man escaping his routes and back are the Blink 182-esque punk lyrics.

Thankfully the further into the album you get the more Angels & Airwaves' distinct sound begins to shine through once again. Secret Crowds may not be single material but it certainly speaks volumes above the tracks before it, before you’re led into Star of Bethlehem. It’s then that you’re taken somewhere else entirely.

Recorded last Christmas for an American compilation, the song has been split into two for the album, the second part being renamed True Love. It’s here where at last the album really grabs your attention and Tom’s claim that their music should be listened to “sitting in the dark with nothing more than a candle and a pair of headphones plugged in” is understood and even relished.

The real highlight ironically comes from the most punk inspired track on the album. Rite of Spring details Tom’s childhood and ascendancy into music and successfully does what earlier tracks failed to do, match heavy lyrics with soulful riffs.