Album Review: Frank Turner – Undefeated

Frank Turner is set to unveil Undefeated, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career – his tenth full-length album in nearly two decades. Through the tapestry of Turner’s winding evolution, one thing remains constant: his penchant for genre-blending with a distinct punk edge. With each track on Undefeated, this signature calling card is once again boldly stamped, reaffirming Turner’s status as a masterful sonic alchemist.

Following his 2022 release, FTHC, his first UK #1 album, Turner sets his sights on mature introspection, reflection, and wistful nostalgia. In fact, he’s quoted as saying that the inspiration for Undefeated was “…people who write about adulthood, essentially.”

He eases you into that subtle shift in tone and songwriting style. The album kicks off with “Do One,” which feels like a spiritual successor to his iconic Love Ire & Song hit “Photosynthesis” – a staple of any live Frank Turner experience. “Do One” is brimming with infectious energy, attitude, and resilience. In simpler terms, “Do One” is a no-surprise, Frank Turner trademarked anthem.

“Never Mind the Back Problems” follows and it turns any expectation of cohesiveness on its head. I’m willing to bet this is deliberate. While previous albums mostly sat in a specific genre (Be More Kind diving into electronic, No Man’s Land into folk, and FTHC into hardcore punk), Undefeated wastes no time bouncing around. “Never Mind The Back Problems” is a classic punk pub jam reminiscent of The Pogues. It’s fast, it’s fun, and…it has a great Counting Crows reference. Classic punk is alive and well on a few other tracks on Undefeated, namely “Girl From The Record Shop” and “The Leaders” – both drawing inspiration from Black Flag, Descendents, and The Ramones.

It isn’t until tracks 6 and 7 where I start to hear influences like The Hold Steady – e.g., “…people who write about adulthood, essentially.” “Letters” is a poignant journey through past connections, while “East Finchley” offers a mature, introspective stroll through the corridors of Turner’s memory and deep thought. That mature, somewhat muted Turner returns later in the album with “Show People” – a Counting Crows-infused, classic rock-feeling commentary on, well, show people.

In my opinion, the two closers of Undefeated are some of the most interesting Frank Turner songs to date. I say this because they feel the most experimental for him. “Somewhere Inbetween” is an alt-rock tune that builds on itself while maintaining a persistent, driving energy. It’s a beautiful track and the perfect lead-in song to The Beatles-esque closing title track. “Undefeated” is a piano-driven, candlelit ode to resilience. It’s delicate and has incredible emotional depth with an explosive ending that is going to be brilliant live.

And perhaps that’s my biggest takeaway on this album. Any Frank Turner fan is aware of his dedication to the live show. He counts every show he’s ever performed (he’s up in the high two thousands now) and his band is simply lights out. Full stop. That band (Ben Lloyd on guitar, Tarrant Anderson on bass, Callum Green on drums, and Matt Nasir on piano) is tracked on these recordings and, to me, it shows. My entire listen was met with thoughts like “this will be a fantastic live performance.” And, with Frank Turner, that is almost just as important as the recording itself.

Undefeated hits all streaming platforms on May 3rd but you can hear the latest singles below: