Glass Animals returns to the mainstream with the release of “Creatures in Heaven,” the first single of their upcoming album “I Love You So F***ing Much,” set to drop July 19. 

Lead vocalist Dave Bayley teased wanting to make a space-themed album in the past and while that isn’t super obvious in “Creatures in Heaven,” the themes of love, specifically a first love, bleed through the song’s soft melodies.

Lyrically, “Creatures in Heaven” is a step down from the band’s more metaphorical and abstract lines from 2014’s “ZABA” and 2016’s “How To Be A Human Being,” trading their distinct songwriting style for something more repetitive and radio pop. 

This is most clearly seen in lines such as “Three in the morning, be in the moment / Here in the moment, free in the moment,” and “‘Cause it’s merely a moment, here for a moment / Here is the moment, here for a moment.”

While this may push away hardcore Glass Animals fans, the song is still catchy, reminiscent of a slow summer jam sure to lure in more casual listeners.

“Creatures in Heaven” leans more into the heavy production of 2020’s “Dreamland,” sounding less experimental and more pop-friendly and synthesized. Bayley’s odd pronunciation of words returns in this single, which does clash with the laid-back instrumentals. 

However, “Creatures in Heaven” has moments where the stars align. It gradually grows on listeners with its intimate instrumentation and the occasional lyrics that, while simplistic, still beautifully capture the idea of first love. 

Those who loved “Dreamland” will enjoy “Creatures in Heaven,” although fans of Glass Animals’s older works will have to hold off until the release of the full album to see if the band’s eclectic style returns in full.

Final Score: 6/10

Categories: Arts & Entertainment