After a four year hiatus since their debut album, Tyranny in 2014, Julian Casablancas along with bandmates, The Voidz are back with their latest album, Virtue. The band released their single, “Leave It In My Dreams” back in January, giving fans a taste for what their new album will have in store for them as they waited for the full release. Taking a more upbeat turn with their sound and structure, the band has evolved from their original broody-electronic faze and have begun to move to something more instrumental with clearer vocals.

While some were excited to see what The Voidz had in store for their newest album, others (like me) couldn’t help but think, “Okay but where are The Strokes?” In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Casablancas discussed that he had a “personal vision” that was just not part of The Strokes agenda. Casablancas went on to say, “I don’t want to tell other people what to do. And I think that with The Voidz, I think we’re on the same wavelength.” With that being said, it is easy to see that Casablancas and The Voidz have a connection with their musical style and their willingness to create a catchy sound that is a little outside of the box.

If you’re still feeling the long-lasting scars of high school and can’t seem to shake them, “Permanent High School” will help you through that. The guitar’s sly and ominous sound in the background in accompaniment with Casablancas’ vocals perfectly encapsulates the stresses of being an adolescent. Check out Virtue, available on all music streaming platforms now.