One Direction: FOUR album review - "More powerful than ever" ★★★★ 

One Direction are making a habit of defying expectations. After finishing third on

, no-one expected them to go on and release a fantastic debut single. \'What Makes You Beautiful\' was instant pop, fizzing with innocent youth and massive hooks, but still, no-one expected it to then launch them into a global sensation. Okay, so one massive hit and they\'ll wobble on the second album, right? It got bigger, and then even bigger again with the third album touring stadiums across the planet. So here we are with a fourth album - imaginatively titled

- and a boyband who should be heading dangerously close to the end of their career cycle - but you\'d be foolish to write them off just yet.

There have been whispers of contributions from The 1975 and days in the studio with Kodaline, indicating One Direction were busy continuing the blend of adolescent pop-rock they accomplished on

to a favourable response. While the results of those particular sessions have failed to materialise here, it\'s hard to avoid the influence the bands have had on the five-piece. It\'s still remarkably polished pop by anyone\'s standards, but there\'s a mettle determination to produce solid music regardless of their teen following.

From the off, \'Steal My Girl\' indicated a new direction of walloping \'70s-inspired chord structures, while keeping the overall song a swooping radio-friendly blow-out. It\'s a soundscape that continues throughout

, despite peaking and dipping through tempos and moods. At the top end of the spectrum, the \'60s swing-pop of \'Girl Almighty\' is offset with Niall\'s growling "I\'ll get down on my knees for you" without the production feeling too overblown. The persistent rhythm on \'Stockholm Syndrome\' masks its tame allusion of bondage with an underlying groove both menacing and inviting, but \'Broken Hearts\' is the big stadium number here, though, with its calling chorus and Bruce Springsteen thump. In essence, its epic quality is so tangible it\'s almost frightening to imagine the hysteria it will cause in a live setting.

Down the bottom, Ed Sheeran and Passenger-penned \'18\' is a dainty episode with a pretty tonality, but feels a little too docile surrounded by the verve achieved elsewhere. That said, just above it we tread mid-tempo mellow ground and, rather surprisingly, within it are some of the brightest moments. \'Fireproof\' is luscious melancholic rock, awash with heavenly "ahhs" and a Valencia-filtered melody reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac. \'Fool\'s Gold\' is heartfelt folk with snug acoustic guitar licks, while new single \'Night Changes\' is slow-dance rock with glowing harmonies, hearing Harry note "We\'re only getting older, baby". Age is obviously allowing them to produce meatier tracks, but they still manage to get away with the soppy sentiment only boybands can pull off.

Going on past examples - particularly after four years together and the nature of their talent show inception - you\'d expect One Direction to be approaching their expiry date. Of course, there will always be split rumors surrounding them, and they do little to quell fans\' fears on \'Spaces\'. "Who\'s going to be the first to say goodbye?" they ponder on the lofty anthem, before adding: "The spaces between us hold all our secrets." Okay, it\'s more than likely a serenade to a falling relationship, but given the amount of involvement in the songwriting by the band this time out, believing there is a knowing subtext gives it a more interesting narrative. Whatever the case - and once again against all expectations -

is proof they\'ve got plenty of mileage yet. This is One Direction firing on

Tracks to download: \'Broken Hearts\', \'Fireproof\', \'Fool\'s Gold\', \'Spaces\', \'Stockholm Syndrome\'

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