It's sad, dark and slow, and reading the story behind the record, the reason is clear. It's well written, well executed, but too long to my taste, lacking of variation for such a long record. And Even though Cave is a great artist, there is too much of him on this list (as for many other artists/bands).
While he was working on his previous album Skeleton Tree, Nick Cave and his family suffered an almost unimaginable tragedy - his 15 year old son Arthur died in an accident in horrific circumstances, leaving behind a family wracked and broken by grief. While some of the lyrics on Skeleton Tree dealt with the immediate aftermath, this album is about the process of going through the grief of losing a child, dealing with anger, despair, poignant memories and ultimately accepting the unacceptable truth. It’s not an easy listen, but it’s an unforgettable one that speaks to a fundamental human experience.