On their fourth album since reuniting, Greg Dulli and co. seem animated by a desire to keep learning, pushing the soul-grunge of their past into more graceful territory

Anyone expecting an aging band to recapture the intense majesty of their youth will be disappointed, but if you’re looking for leather-jacketed slow soul, Soft Control will fill that role well

As much as the Whigs can be said to have a classic sound – volume-pedal swells, wah-inflected slide guitar, open strings – the album embraces those sonics without being self-referential

For Dulli and The Afghan Whigs it means remaining true to themselves and creating some great rock music

Greg Dulli and The Afghan Whigs have been an important and singular part of the indie rock firmament for their entire career. Soft Control is the latest example of their excellence

Soft Control would be a great place to dig in if you’re new to the Afghan Whigs, but it is also another rewarding collection for devotees

For those concerned that they’ve lost their guitar-driven swagger, fear not, as Soft Control features some of the band’s most fiery and uplifting material that fuelled classics like 1965 and Gentlemen

The brooding "Duvateen" builds to an epic finale that's testament to a band who've only got better with age. Print edition only

Can the Whigs sustain the cinematic potency of the three albums released since their return to the studio in 2014, after 16 years away? Spoiler - they can. No caveats. Print edition only