The Last Dinner Party were chauffeured on to the indie scene via horse and carriage in 2023, dazzling critics and award panels alike with their quirky brand of histrionic baroque-rock. Just a year and a half on from the release of their acclaimed debut, Prelude To Ecstasy, the five-piece have crafted a 45-minute-long follow-up amid a busy schedule crammed with sold-out shows.

Proceedings begin on a typically grand note with ‘Agnus Dei’, a shining example of The Last Dinner Party’s ability to transform everyday scenarios into Greek tragedies. ‘Here comes the apocalypse, meet you at the bus stop,’ they cry, on a track that compares the feeling of heartbreak to that of the world ending in a blazing inferno. The project is also interspersed with beautifully raw moments such as ‘I Hold Your Anger’, on which the quintet sound more confident than ever as the strings kick in, and the captivating piano ballad ‘Sail Away’. Particularly impressive is ‘The Scythe’, a poignant reflection on grief and separation that could well be their most emotionally volatile and affecting work to date.

While The Last Dinner Party’s penchant for Renaissance-era stylings is often regarded as a gimmick by detractors, what critics generally fail to acknowledge is the group are producing engaging, unique indie rock music, something that cannot be said for the various landfill groups that plagued the country in years gone by. Though it could have tried to stray a little further from the sounds of their debut, From The Pyre is a strong body of work brimming with bold creative choices and playful experimentation. It helps cement The Last Dinner Party’s place as one of the most interesting bands in the UK.

From The Pyre is released by Island on Friday 17 October; The Last Dinner Party play Edinburgh Corn Exchange, Monday 17 November; main picture: Laura-Marie Cieplik.