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After releasing a Number 1 album in 2006, Lostprophets spent their fair share of time on top of the world. Now, four years later, you may be wondering what took them so long to release another to compete with that title? Well, to be honest, so did everyone. After recording an album's worth of material in 2007, with acclaimed producer John Feldmann, they scrapped their efforts in favour of recording something completely different, which has ultimately become their fourth album, The Betrayed.

So, the question on every reviewer's lips - and no doubt, every fan's too - is has this four year wait been worth it?

Opener 'If It Wasn't For Hate, We'd All Be Dead' promises something epic, and leading into 'Dstryr / Dstryr' that promise is met. As one of the best on the album, the song reminisces with sounds from a much younger band; frontman Ian Watkins' vocals sound more like those from 'Start Something' than their more recent work and it's refreshing to hear the original qualities that made this band so great stand out on a new release.

Up next are the two prominent singles so far; 'It's Not The End of the World' feels as polished and grand as 'Rooftops' was back in the day, but unfortunately, an early single release means that it feels a little too old already. However, the band's latest offering 'Where We Belong' is incredible. You can almost smell the sweat from a delirious crowd ready to sing along - in true Lostprophets style - as you listen to it, and the breakdowns and build ups allow for this to be one of the biggest sounding tracks on the album, whilst remaining of the most honest. A true anthem.

Don't be fooled by the quirky wordplay! 'Next Stop Atro City' stands as another brutal throwback to the old style of the band, whilst remaining as catchy as hell. 'AC Ricochet' and 'Streets of Nowhere' however, provide the funkier offering, with the latter even sounding very like something The Jam would've rocked. 'Darkest Blue' sits as a beautiful pop song, sounding huge and perfect for a live environment.

Closing track 'The Light That Burns Twice As Bright' draws the album to a tingling conclusion. The quiet and delicate build-up, explodes into life with an incredible intensity, leaving Watkins repeating the line of 'this is how it feels' almost deliriously, until a piano melody intervenes. The track then simply fades into the cold clicks and whirs of machinery and the heavy silence that follows speaks for itself.

This album is great. Showcasing a mix of old school Lostprophets' edge, with the mainstream anthems that we have become so accustomed to hearing from this band, this feels like the album we've been waiting for. And while, yes, they'll never make another 'Fake Sound of Progress', their ability to recapture the energy of 'Start Something' in these songs, whilst refusing to compromise their popular status is admirable. This feels like more than enough to please fans from all of their different bases, and that in itself is a great feat.

Released 18th January 2010 on Visible Noise and Sony Music Entertainment.