Following the success of their 2012 album Babel, British rock band Mumford & Sons is back with their third studio album Wilder Mind. Mumford & Sons debuts a unique sound in this album that  extends past their former musical ventures. The album, released on May 4th, abandons their usual banjos, acoustic guitars, and double bass in a 12-track album that is both refreshing for longtime fans and satisfying for new ones.

For this album, the band opted to collaborate with producer James Ford instead of Markus Dravs whom they have worked with for their two previous albums, which partially allowed the band to better shift into a new musical approach.

Just a few seconds into the first listed song “Tompkins Square Park,” it’s clear that Mumford & Sons doesn’t intend to waste any time to show-off their electric guitar and pounding drums—all things that contribute to the overall experience of the album.

The official lead single “Believe” (originally released March 9) stands as a consummate summary of the album as a whole: love gone awry in a bustling city. With powerful lyrics and strong vocals to match, it isn’t difficult for “Believe” to become an instant favorite.

Surprisingly, the song the album takes its name from, “Wilder Mind,” is one track that could be easily overlooked if not for the name. While the lyrics are cleverly stitched together as seen in “You can be every little thing you want nobody to know / And you can try to drown out the street below,” lead vocalist Marcus Mumford falls flat in delivering the song in a way that matches the lyrics’ eloquence.

What momentum is temporarily lost in “Wilder Mind” is restored in the tracks that follow, such as “Monster,” “Snake Eyes” and “Ditmas,” most of which weave bursts of impressive electric guitar riffs into each song, creating a sound that is simple but effective.

All too soon, the album closes with “Hot Gates,” ending the with soothing piano and spot-on vocals, and a final message to listeners alike: “There is no way out of your only life / So run on, run on!”

Overall, the album flows cohesively as a group of songs that reflects the months of tedious planning, writing, and recording put into it. While it ventures away from what devout fans might be used to hearing from this British band, Wilder Mind still manages to retain the creative edge and style that makes Mumford & Sons a band worth the listen.