So far, so familiar, you might think. And while Avril knows which side her bread is buttered on, Love Sux has the ability to surprise – not so much with huge stylistic shifts but the ease with which a subtle flourish can bring her sound bang up to date. Hyperactive opener Cannonball is a great example, which wouldn’t have sounded out of place on the latest Poppy album. There’s all manner of the energetic offerings you’re yearning for here. But there are the slower soul-bearers too, in the same vein as the classic I’m With You, such as Avalanche, which will appeal to fans of what Olivia Rodrigo is doing. Bow down, people, because the queen is back.
Verdict: 4/5
For Fans Of: blink-182, Paramore, Poppy
Love Sux is out now via DTA/Elektra