The Japanese art of kintsugi, which involves repairing broken ceramics with gold-flecked glue to make them more beautiful, is a concept central to the second album of Nothing But Thieves. The Southend-formed band released their debut album in 2015, gaining international recognition before facing internal challenges.
Their first album attracted fans from Korea, Japan, the United States, and Europe. They earned respect from established rock bands like Muse, who invited them as a support act on their 2016 tour. The album campaign concluded with a headline gig at O2 Academy Brixton in December, signaling their growing popularity in the UK. Frontman Conor Mason reflected on this achievement: “We went to school together. We started playing in [guitarist Dom Craik’s] garage together. Now we're playing Brixton together.”
Despite their success, the band faced challenges while touring for two years and working on their follow-up album. Conor Mason described his struggles: “I was really struggling with the whole lack of sleep and being away on the road for a year straight.” He credited his bandmates for supporting him through difficult times and influencing the new album's direction.
The new record reflects personal experiences and reactions to global uncertainties, focusing on themes of control systems. Songs like "Broken Machine," "Sorry," and "Amsterdam" address these issues. Joe explained: “It's about systems we perceive to be automatic but when you actually look at them, they really aren't.”
Recorded mainly during tours, the album was finalized in early 2017 after an intensive week at an AirBnB studio in Hastings. Producer Mike Crossey helped shape their demos into 11 tracks that continue to explore eclecticism and songcraft.
Dom Craik emphasized experimentation: “We experimented more, tried to push the boundaries.” Conor Mason highlighted their modern approach: “We're a guitar band with a really modern take on music...we're trying to modernize and push the boundaries.”