Sometimes a change is as good as a rest — and STARBENDERS are absolutely banking on that here. The rules get bent on “The Beast Goes On,” and the result is a very different beast indeed: glossier, poppier, more street-lit and synth-slick than before, but still shot through with that glam-soaked danger they do better than most.
Straight away, the title track “The Beast Goes On” feels like the mission statement — more pop than we’re used to, but it’s not a softening so much as an evolution. That theme runs deep: “Nothing Ever Changes” is all in-your-face urban swirl, with the deliciously conflicted thought that “we sold our souls to rock ’n’ roll” hanging over it. Then “Chantilly Boy” leans hard into an 80s disco pulse, like they’re daring you not to move.
“Cold Silver” is where the mood turns, though. There’s a modern edge, the whispers add menace, and Kimi’s line — “I’m so fucking lonely” — lands with a blunt-force honesty that cuts through all the sheen. From there, “Forever Mine” doubles down on the new shape of the band: not a revolution, but an evolution — and you need serious confidence to pull this off without it feeling like dress-up.
That confidence is all over “Hello Goodbye,” too. “I sold my soul to get a dog in the fight,” goes the line — and it’s not just sonically different, but musically as well, as if they’re re-wiring how they build a song. “Tokyo” brings the energy back up, while “Saturday” confirms the shift: appreciably more pop than they were, but still with an edge that stops it tipping into lightweight.
Then comes the addictive stuff. “Summon My Heart” has that “call my name” hook that gets under your skin, with a disco stomp that feels tailor-made for late-night lights. “Somebody Else” keeps the 80s spirit alive, and “To Be Alright” swirls with a sheen they’ve never really had before — the kind that makes the whole record feel bigger, bolder, more cinematic.
By the time “June” drifts in — more dream-pop than rock ’n’ roll — you’re fully in this new world. Even the closing Bad Religion cover, “21st Century Digital Boy,” gets reshaped to match it, less a straight lift and more a reflection through STARBENDERS’ updated lens.
It won’t be everyone’s preferred version of the band, and that’s kind of the point. “The Beast Goes On” is STARBENDERS taking a risk, leaning into polish and pop instinct without losing the attitude — bending the rules, changing the shape, and seeing what survives.
RATING: 7/10
