Evolve

Evolve could’ve been a necessary new chapter for Imagine Dragons, but in reality, it just feels like another retread of what they've already done, and it’s still not good. Their signature stadium anthems are still in full force, but there's nothing here to make you think they've moved forward. It’s a lot of the same: big, bombastic, and corny choruses, loud drums, and hooks designed for radio play, but the formula has worn really really thin.

The production is clean and crisp as you'd expect from a mainstream band, but it feels so heavily manufactured that it lacks the authenticity that could give it a bit of life. The lyrics stick to generic motivational themes, without really adding anything new or deep. It's all surface-level, with no real surprises along the way. You know exactly what to expect with every track: an easy hook, a chorus that builds, corny lyrics, and then a predictable outro.

In short, Evolve sees Imagine Dragons not evolving at all. It's more of the same formulaic pop-rock that Imagine Dragons has been doing for years, and while there may be a few tracks that are somewhat okay, it just lacks any freshness or risk that would make it more exciting. Overall, it’s annoying background music at best.