Released: August 11
Back with their first album in eight years, Public Image Ltd.’s ‘End Of World’ is a bittersweet return for the post-punk group.
Coinciding with the band’s 45th year, when they formed following frontman John Lydon’s departure from Sex Pistols after just one album, the record was conceived during their 40th anniversary tour in 2018 and completed more recently when, post-pandemic, “there was just this massive explosion of ideas,” Lydon says.
It’s lead single, Hawaii, saw the group make a surprise bid for Eurovision glory as a contender for Ireland’s 2023 entry, and while the track didn’t make it through to the finals its significance runs deeper, serving as a tribute to the vocalist’s late wife, Nora, who sadly passed away from Alzheimer’s earlier this year.
The song sees John reflecting on their lifetime well spent and in particular, one of their happiest moments together in Hawaii. “Nora loved the album, she wouldn’t have wanted us to postpone it or change any of our plans,” he says, adding: “It is dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most.”
Now, they’re pushing ahead with the release and ‘End Of The World’ showcases the group’s range, with tender moments juxtaposed with typically PiL tracks, such as opener Penge, which is just the kind of overtly theatrical rock that’s expected of the band.
The influences are many; Car Chase is a thriller set to music while Being Stupid Again leans into dance territory, and the stream of consciousness lyrics in The Do That are brilliantly absurd. Meanwhile, Walls goes back to the beginning for a post-punk anthem that’s reassuringly familiar and sits comfortably in their catalogue.
Dive into a Public Image Ltd. album and you never know what to expect – ‘End Of World’ is a fine example of that – but 13 tracks later their idiosyncrasy is contagious and the group’s refusal to conform to whatever expectations and labels are forced onto them is in equal parts admirable and inspirational.
