I have been waiting for this album to come out since June 2003 when I first became hooked on Matchbook Romance's supreme ability to wipe the floor with any other band who try to write heartstring pulley songs. They always seemed to be the only band of their genre who deserved to make it, with their black lyrics ("you're as welcome as cancer but my door's always unlocked") and fiercely charged music on songs such as 'Playing For Keeps'. Unsure but excited, I made sure I was one of the first to get my hands on 'Voices' and boy, I wasn't disappointed.

Much like Boys Night Out and Finch, Matchbook Romance have managed to create a completely different second album and yet your respect for them climbs even higher. Opening with 'You Can Run, But We'll Find You', you soon realise you're not in for the same emotional debut as 'Stories and Alibis' provided you with. Matchbook have darkened their sound but with the same twists and turns of the heart they've always promised you. Following on with 'Surrender', one of the best songs on the album, the Muse comparisons are certainly visible. With the same grace yet same energy as Matt Bellamy and co., the band have already opened you up to a journey of musical discovery within the first two songs. By the time we reach the favourite 'Monsters', we're still not ready to stop for breath. This track is beyond good, it excels every previous hope I ever had for the quartet. We have handclaps to please the indie kids, a full blown chorus for the metallers to rock out to and lyrics which every emo kid can identify with.

In typical Muse style, Matchbook Romance aren't going to give you any wimpy short tracks on this album. Averaging at about five minutes each, every song manages to contain constant excitement, whether it be the slower 'Say It Like You Mean It' or epileptic 'Fiction', they have wiped the predictability slate clean and produced an album of originality for their field. There's certainly no 'Tiger Lily' on this album.

If you were to ask me whether I preferred this album or their debut, I wouldn't be able to answer. Both albums encompass different sounds which appeal to different parts of my personality, a concept which I'm sure everyone will be able to identify with. If you heard their debut however and dismissed it as fashionably emo sentimentality, give 'Voices' a chance. I can almost guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised.

You can check out their website at www.matchbookromance.com.