Photo by Sam Rockman

If this is the end of every song that we sing, then by all means, let Robert Smith narrate the end credits of civilization’s season finale that goes along with it. 16 long years have passed since the Cure released an album in 2008’s 4:13 Dream, but the shade of darkness existing in this world as we know it nearly begs for their return when it so complimentarily framed against the goth rock pioneers’ musical soundscape. It’s been more than a minute since the Cure felt so alive beyond settling into legacy alternative act status, but maybe a little Armageddon is where they thrive. “Alone” suggests that they’ve made the most of their time away by double down on drama (that three-minute long disintegration loop of effervescent keys and an electrical shutter that rings through its skyline with every guitar and drum aftershock goes hard…) and taking advantage of their own stylistic self-awareness in light of a new generation’s interest in them, with Smith casting dour of the end times, romantically of course. “And the birds / Falling out of our skies / And the words / Falling out of our minds / And here is to love / To all the love / Falling out of our lives.” And here is to a formidable return before time runs out…

The Cure’s Songs of a Lost World will be released November 1st on Fiction Records.