The Thermals’ draw is undeniable. From a concept album that predicts the fanatic religious evolution of America, to a surprise cameo from Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein in their video for ‘I Don’t Believe You’, they stand at the very height of credibility. Most would think this level of success equates to fame and fortune, but the Portland based band reached the limits of their niche years ago, and there – with the exception of third studio album The Blood, The Body, The Machine – their advance came to an unexplainable halt.

Enter Personal Life, an album with so much clout it’s hard to believe the band won’t finally achieve worldwide domination. The grand declaration of ‘I’m Gonna Change Your Life’ and concluding track ‘You Changed My Life’ could have set them up for a fall, but from the first chord to the last rush of front man Hutch Harris’ lilted sneer, it’s clear their fifth studio album has the power to change far more than one measly life.

Harris’ delivery remains the nuclear weapon of the band’s arsenal. The lyrics are sung like the desperate implore of a preacher taken to atheism, cataclysmic and at the same time undeniably hopeful. Personal Life takes all the hysteria-induced raving of More Parts per Million and Fucking A, and slams it into the rock-pop that carried Now We Can See. Rather than result in a conflicting mess of sincere and nonplussed, serious and uncaring, the songs offer heartfelt indignation and blissful intoxication. It’s an overwhelming concoction that very few can pull off without sounding insincere. And no one can accuse The Thermals of being insincere.

The persistent thud of Kathy Foster’s bass combined with the inexhaustible trash of Westin Glass’ drums make for a compelling accompaniment. Some claim The Thermals’ ‘new’ direction lays waste to the lo-fi routes they originally embraced, but if Personal Life proves anything, it proves those critics wrong. Just as much as ‘Power Lies’ promotes an anti-establishment ethos, ‘Not Like Any Other Feeling’ folds its claws tightly around the band’s classic punk sound.

This album is an all-rounder; a crowd pleaser; but what it lends to the mainstream it doesn’t take from The Thermals’ convictions. Personal Life has infectious hooks and one-liners that will put your head in turmoil for days, and enough emotive power to have you charging at the mundane in a foaming stupor. The ground has been broken before – now you can behold the after math.