Kasabian – Act III

Kasabian are back, following on from 2024’s Happenings, and are in an experimental mood. Six years on from the band’s well-publicised split with their former frontman, which saw Sergio Pizzorno take on the helm of lead-singer duties, the group could have unashamedly rested on their laurels and produced safe, fan-appeasing rock ’n’ roll for the masses. That could not be further from what the group chose to do with Act III: an album that proves to be an experimental, surprisingly disco-led outing from the Leicester-born rockers that pushes the boundaries of what Kasabian can be.

The album kicks off proper with Soulmate, a ratchety, spoken-word blitz that’s thick, boisterous and deliciously gothic. Soon to follow is Hippie Sunshine: an infectious number that begins with a head-bang-inducing bass riff that one would expect from the rock outfit before hitting the listener with a sudden twinkly piano moment that could have been pulled directly from The Eagles’ Hotel California album (think Wasted Time or The Last Resort) that just cuts cleanly through all the noise. Pizzorno then proceeds to lead the group into more R ‘n’ B terrain with Superpowers: a funky, synth-led, R ‘n’ B-tinged rhythm that showcases Kasabian’s willingness to detour from their rocker roots, whilst Great Pretender shifts their sound in yet another direction with a more upbeat, almost The Strokes-styled entry that would fit right at home on a 2000s skater kid’s iPod. The real star of the show is Nothing Better Than This: a masterful pairing of the thunderous blows of Kasabian’s trademark bass hooks with club-ready electronic arrangements that swiftly nose-dive Act III into the realm of 1980s disco with its hypnotic electronics and a neon charge that recalls acts such as Kraftwerk or the sound of Giorgio Moroder’s iconic Chase.

Yet the true surprise of the album comes in the form of Glide. In 2009, Kasabian famously threw their hat in the ring for a crack at developing a Bond soundtrack (with duties ultimately falling to Adele for what became 2012’s Skyfall). Since then, it’s clear that the dream of chasing that golden goose has not faded and perhaps Glide could prove their best case for another shot at the long-sought after Bond soundtrack with its moody opening, its cinematic ambience and its Moby-esque (à la Extreme Ways) synth-driven melody that begins with softly finger picked guitars that pave the way for the frenetic kick of scattered drums, pulsating synths and the purposeful chimes of a keyboard that brings balance to the whole affair. If the powers that be at Amazon MGM Studios look towards Pizzorno’s band of gothic rockers for their reboot of the famed British spy, then Glide could prove one hell of a personal statement.

Act III stands as a fitting bookend to a chapter in their storied career so far that all the while pushes the band into uncharted territory. Some fans may raise eyebrows at some directions Act III takes, particularly with the album’s closer Say You (Closer) that feels as if Kasabian were reimagined in the world of Ted Lasso with its inconsequential narrative that may prove a bit too sweet for some, but all experiments must lead to expansion and Act III goes to show that Kasabian are looking onwards to chart new sonic plains.

Ronan Fawsitt
Image: Neil Bedford

Act III is released on 4^th September 2026. For further information or to order the album, visit Kasabian’s website here.

Watch the video for Superpowers here: