Simply put, the first track revealed from Arctic Monkeys' fourth album Suck It and See, 'Brick by Brick,' is both appalling and inexplicable. Appalling because its repetitive guitar chug is matched by ineffective chants of 'I wanna rock and roll' which are more turgid than rousing; inexplicable considering it is on an album containing many of the finest songs Turner and co. have yet recorded. However, those seeking a re-write of their hugely successful debut's energized indie anthems will be disappointed; Suck It and See marks a progression rather than a return.

'Brick by Brick' takes in the worst elements of Humbug's departure into heavier, more experimental territory in its very long three minutes, but this is more than recompensed by the standout 'Library Pictures.' With its propulsive, thunderous drum beat and frenetic build-up of guitar riffs, the track rushes by and proves with ease that the band can make this heavier psychedelia engaging, inventive and, above all, a hell of a lot of fun. 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair,' though, yields slightly more mixed results. There is an interesting tension between guitar work that sounds like it has been lifted from Black Sabbath and its 60s inspired chorus, as Alex Turner croons "Oooo" over a deafening backdrop before being answered by a chant reminiscent of 'Brick by Brick.'

The presence of a 60s influence on the album's vocal melodies is felt throughout, most keenly on the melancholic tracks that comprise much of Suck It and See's latter half. Turner seems to have been taking cues from fellow Sheffield resident Richard Hawley, whose wistful croon can be heard behind some of the album's best songs, just as it informed Turner's solo soundtrack to this year's film Submarine. That record's 'Piledriver Waltz' is given a slight reworking here, with added guitar jangle to supplement its reverb-laden nostalgia. A similar style is found on the charming title track, with subtle harmonies in the chorus providing a sunny backdrop to Turner's sweet yet forlorn delivery.

'Suck It and See' also features some of the record's wittiest lines, such as Turner confessing his love to a woman by claiming she's "rarer than a can of Dandelion and Burdock / And other girls are just post-mix lemonade." While retaining a knack for tongue-in-cheek humour, for the most part Turner's lyrics move away from the sharp, cutting urban commentary of the Arctic Monkey's early records to explore love in more esoteric terms, like the ominous muse of opener 'She's Thunderstorms,' who becomes an almost sinister force from the repetition of the song's title.

One of the most telling things about Suck It and See is that most of its most memorable tracks are found on its mid-tempo second half; what makes songs like the ballad 'Reckless Serenade' more exciting than the rollicking noise of 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I Moved Your Chair' is the more clearly exposed strength of the songwriting here. Four albums in and the Arctic Monkeys have yet to run out of ideas or rest on their laurels, instead crafting an increasingly singular and varied catalogue to which Suck It and See may prove one of the strongest entries.