Mogwai: Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will – review

Mellowing in middle age? Not exactly, but that belligerent album title is at least half a red herring. The post-rock veterans' seventh album favours blissed-out slow-build over the sonic ambushes of their early years and even when they do rock out, as on the measured noise assault of "Rano Pano", it is with a certain stately forbearance. But there is still mischief at work here - ragged guitars chafe against the serene melodies of opener "White Noise". And their grasp of mood is undiminished, not least on the crepuscular blues of "Letters to the Metro".