War Stories is essentially UNKLE's version of a rock album.  Full text...

The merging of rock and DJ culture – always a tricky one to pull off – works seamlessly here, epitomised by the opening of Hold My Hand, where a timeshifted sample leads smoothly into a thumping ZZ Top-style riff (although the guitars quickly become more Robert Fripp than Billy Gibbons).  Full text...

War Stories, their third album, is a dark, brooding epic affair (clocking in at over 70 minutes) that features collaborations from the likes of Josh Homme, Gavin Clark and former Cult frontman, Ian Astbury.  Full text...

While their previous effort Never, Never Land was no great letdown, War Stories is a more consistent effort filled to the brim with strong tracks worth listening to over and over.  Full text...

A stormy set of dark, synth-streaked psych-rock jams that carries a whiff of tomorrow while looking back to the stomping proto-metal of Black Sabbath and Blue Cheer. Evidently, nodding one's head is a precursor to banging it.  Full text...

UNKLE have produced another good rather than great album that sounds ahead of the curve. Whether or not people take any notice this time around is another question.  Full text...

UNKLE still isn't as good as they were on their debut, but manage to change up their sound and release a solid album.  Full text...

There has always seemed to be a sense of unfulfilled promise about UNKLE. As boss of the influential Mo'Wax label, James Lavelle was behind pioneering records such as DJ Shadow's Entroducing and early EPs by Air. His club nights were stuff of legend, and when word spread that Lavelle had formed his own band entitled UNKLE, surely we were in for something special.   Full text...

James Lavelle dollops desert rock on his dance on guest-star heavy third album.  Full text...

War Stories is a bit of a come-down for anyone who hoped UNKLE would finally rally on this album.  Full text...

It's solid enough, but given the imagination they once possessed, it sounds like UNKLE are trying too hard.  Full text...

While Lavelle's previous work can still be looked upon as visionary, his latest is anything but. Even with its repeatable tracks sounding instantly dated, War Stories marks the official end of this one-time progressive's soothsaying days.  Full text...