Few bands have traversed as many musical landscapes as Primal Scream, and on their 2024 release Come Ahead, they lean deeply into groove, disco, and soul, delivering an album that’s as much a statement of joy as it is a call to arms. Much of the album references the ongoing genocide in Gaza, with unflinching condemnation. Tracks like “Settlers Blues” and “False Flags” cut to the bone, offering sorrowful and tragic character portraits, but the album is far from oppressive, balancing its heavy moments with shimmering moments of disco-laden, groove-driven levity.

The opener “Ready to Go Home” sets the tone perfectly, an anthem about the liberation that comes from rejecting the fear of death. The slower songs are devastating in their emotional gravity, but Come Ahead leaves you feeling reflective, not defeated. It’s a reminder of Primal Scream’s unparalleled ability to marry fun with fury, groove with grief, and activism with artistry. Their recent performance at Brixton Academy’s Gig For Gaza underscores that this isn’t just a band making statements, but one living its values, showing a warmer, friendlier, and more personal side without losing the edge that has always defined them.