A mastery of soul influences and Greg Dulli’s twin lyrical themes of obsessive lust and simmering anger made the Afghan Whigs stand out from the mid-90s alt-rock herd. Their 2014 comeback Do to the Beast – featuring just Dulli and bassist John Curley from the original line-up - was a little underwhelming, but its follow-up finds them rewinding the years more successfully. The bruising Arabian Heights has real swing and swagger, while Toy Automatic and lead single Demon in Profile benefit from more light and shade, and the judicious use of a horn section. Closer Into the Floor, meanwhile, showcases Dulli’s still spine-tingling ability to switch from a croon to an anguished howl.
