It’s lazy in the extreme. A lot of it is amateurishly cobbled together and has now convinced me to keep my tour money in my pocket. Even the little Vince Clark keyboard squeaks are terrible. Sorry Andy, may you rest in peace Sir.

For me, Exciter and Delta Machine were new lows in DM's career. Things started to subsequently pick up and Spirit was a step in the right direction. I was keen to see what MM offered but on first listen I thought it was harking back to the dreariness of the first two aforementioned albums. Howver, after giving it a second chance, it's actually very good indeed. Before We Drown is glorious & lifts the whole album. The power of the songs isn't apparent at first but taken as a whole, this album is up there with their best.

With previous releases there have been several standout tracks, with this album I don’t feel nothing particularly stands out, but every track is consistently good, well written, perfectly arranged and performed not one duff song, even the Martin Gore solo who I have never been much a fan of his vocal. Also have to say Dave Gahan’s voice is as strong and perfect as it ever was.

The only thing I missed is the extended and dance influence remix of Ghosts Again.

It’s a great album and a good album to give new fans an insight in to DMs brilliantness.

To be a great band (unlike a solo artist) you have to be more than the sum of your parts. Imagine writing your best work after losing your right arm. Greatness and one's peak can be so far in the rear view mirror you run yourself over. What a swerve. Familiar synths, unheard arrangements, minor chord changes, major progression, confidence without ego, individuals in unison. The best complimentary vocal partnership since Paul and John. Warm and cold, vulnerable and in charge, angry and kind, melodic and experimental, Gore and Gahan.

Absolutely fantastic album by the boys…

The single, Ghosts, stands out against today’s crap in the charts. Haunting and a real grower. Dave Gahan in 2023 has such a powerful, underrated voice. Loving the lead track and will be buying the album.

Album bought and not at all disappointed. So many great tracks including Soul With Me and Wagging Tongue.

Wherever Caroline keeps her monkey….leave it there. The only duff track on the album.

Note to record company: some people still buy CDs ~ however, we aren’t idiots, and by charging £16-£17 for the CD, Depeche Mode missed out on a number 1 comeback album in the official charts. Greedy.

First DM album I've had on repeat since Ultra. This is a great album.

Really enjoyed this new release from depeche mode, some stand out tracks here but currently my fav are 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. So pretty much all of them lol-enjoy!!

Personally believe it’s their best since Violator, or possibly Ultra, more catchy numbers than a standard album delivers.

Absolutely amazing! Another cracking DM album.

Been listening to this nonstop since release and it gets better and better. Martin’s song writing and Dave’s voice are on top form. Always You is probably the best song I’ve heard from any band in ages!

Six years away and naturally we all expect another Violator or thereabouts. This is not a classic in any way but it is there best since Playing The Angel. Good songs that could’ve been great, some letdown once again by lazy arrangements and an almost demo-esque production feel. Caroline’s monkey is just awful , wasted studio time and favourite stranger misses a huge chance to be something but just keeps repeating aimlessly. Soul with me is Martins best own vocal since Ultra. The last 4 songs are it’s finest moments but Ghosts Again is s lovely song. Wagging Tongue , Don’t say you love me and Before we drown all growers. Sadly the guys have lost the magic to make gold standard DM songs now I fear. It’s hard to accept just ‘good’ when great was the benchmark from 81-2005. If it’s their final album I for one will be sad, but I can’t see them ever returning to past highs now. Love this band but have to be honest. The best days have passed now and I’m so grateful I was living through them.

This is the best album in years have played so much I love everything not said that for a few albums

First album from PTA that I know which song goes after another. Long time I was waiting for it. Hope they play more songs from album live.

Really pleased that as a life long DM fan, they’ve produced a great album. I love “People are Good” and “Wagging Tongue”, but there are several others that are growing on me too.

The music has a lush and cinematic quality to it and you can imagine it would lend itself well to a science fiction movie or series.

Can we also talk about Dave’s voice? He’s an underrated singer and he’s really in fine form on this record.

I simply never bothered with their last few albums and just contended myself with the classics from their back catalogue, so it’s a delight to have such brilliant new material to enjoy.

This is easily their darkest album yet. So atmospheric and so many nods to their 40 year career and other influences. Personal highlights for me include Wagging Tongue, the Kraftwerk sound of People are Good, the pure atmosphere of the closing track, Speak to Me and Soul with Me, easily Martin Gores best solo song since the legendary Home!

Listened to it in full the moment it dropped at 11pm on Thursday 23rd March. I was only listening to an album but it felt like an event.

Best album since ultra I can really get into this, well done

Original and still unique, thank god for Gore and Gahan

great album love it glad they are back!

A set of very coherent songs, with plenty of light and shade. Classic DM. I was so fed up with the band after their last offering I almost wasn’t even going to bother with this - I’m glad I did.

‘Before we drown’ is amazing and this is Depeche mode at there best.

Fantastic album.

Listened through a couple of times on day of release and must say the most interesting, best produced, exciting depeche album in a long time. Spirit was truly awful and disappointing,I haven’t been cavities but that many tracks on a new album like this since the very underrated Playing the Angel. Martin send to have found his mojo again with experimenting with sounds. Very pleased to have them back on form like this. Terrific production too with some sparkle to it, again unlike some previous offerings over the last few years. Very happy with this album

Return to form mode…

How anyone can possibly write a 5 star review for an album that hasn’t been released

Judging by the only track available so far, the band have made something that can only be described as being better than Exciter

Sorry, that’s the best thing I can say about this, no memorable tune and definitely wouldn’t be on repeat. If this is the best this album can offer then I will be waiting until it’s available on Apple Music rather than paying outright for it

Disappointing

Sounds amazing

Hope is great album like every album of dm the singiel are awesome. Belive that song is for fletcher. Hope it Will be deluxe version of album some extras on it. Can’t wait till album release

High hopes for the album

It’s very touching. Made me cry instantly.

I can’t wait to see them in live again this summer.

I love DM thorugh and through, for more years than I can remember but I must admit to being a little underwealmed. Its a good song, catchy and clearly has meaning but I was hoping for something less generic than this. Most reviews seem to be very positive so I am in a minority here... hoping the full album will bring something more creative than this.... I will buy without hesitation regardless!

Having had so many years to come up with new material; I expected something a bit more outstanding and with perhaps a nod to modern 21st century music. I'm sure the fans will be delighted with it, as it fits the DM mould so well. But will not be top of my DM playlist just yet. Lets hope the album is more original?

Subtle, and for me delivered, before reading media etc, a strong sense of retrospect with a clear ‘life and time moves forward, that’s how it is, so enjoy it, appreciate it and the people around you as nothings for ever’ message so hits the mark. Almost 42 years since buying ‘Dreaming of Me’ in a dirty old Glasgow record shop and being called a ‘p**f’ by a classmate for doing so Mr Gore and also Mr Gahan still drop tracks into my ‘life soundtrack’ as they do for many others, and I am sure they will continue to do so for many more years to come (even if in different projects). Mortality is something many long time followers of DM will be aware of now as many approach and exceed the ‘60’ mark……where did the years go?…especially with last years loss of Mr Fletcher, but as I always say ‘death is just the bits in-between dreams you don’t remember, so nothing scary’..sorry if that’s a bit profound!! Feel quite rejuvenated by the track, kind of ‘we are all in this together and there is still life in this old dog yet’ vibe.

Awesome track, DM are back, Superb ❤️👏🎹🔥👍

A wonderfully written song with excellent progression, it’s sounds like vintage mode but still sounds fresh and modern. Probably one of the more upbeat sounding songs in recent years. Best single since precious.

Depeche Mode do it again, but why oh why do we have to keep waiting so long, drowning in the modern day drab of so called music, until the legends return again with a bang.

Love it & can’t wait to hear the rest of the new album.

Roll on Twickenham 😀

What a song, Ghosts Again is somber but so uplifting, fitting tribute to Fletch and a real impressive return and a cursor for a classic new album

Ghosts Again is amazing. Their best song in years. It's like DM made out with PSB on the way to meet up with Soft Cell!