After a seven year hiatus, Embrace have readied themselves for another gently atmospheric assault with new four track comeback EP Refugees.

What the band have been up to is anyone’s guess, disappearing into obscurity back in 2006, but the Yorkshire four piece have clearly had a change of heart, regrouping brothers Danny and Richard McNamara with their counterparts, keyboardist Mickey Dale and drummer Mike Heaton.

It’s clear from the opening bars of the title track that the band’s penchant for rousing anthemic numbers hasn’t died a death. It starts softly and swells into something much bigger as frontman Danny’s climatic vocals are set against waves of stirring guitar and a neat electronic hook.

“Chameleon” has an effortless drawly quality to it as McNamara’s voice dominates throughout, giving away only to some well executed breakdowns that allow the drums to come to the fore. It has a darker quality than heard before as love is lamented with force.

Guitar from the other McNamara brother stands as the driving force behind “Decades” as his undeniable riffs push everything forward. It peaks at the chorus with all elements lending themselves to stadium filling proportions. On the other hand final number “Bullets” unfolds itself gently, starting forebodingly and giving way to crashing bars as emotive vocals chant “when you cut me open bullets fill my heart”.

Although a return to form in many ways, the band have clearly updated elements of their sound introducing more complicated layers of instrumentation in comparison to historical belters such as “Gravity”.

For every new addition to the mix though, there is clearly a formula that Embrace do not wander far from, with each track echoing the last in some part. They’re a band with a distinctive sound but with their generous choruses and epic songwriting, it’s difficult not to welcome them back with open arms.