Album keeps getting better and better after each listen. But I do miss Dave's voice a lot. He was my favorite "instrument" in this band. Love(d) his voice.
I've felt similar feelings over the past month and a half as I revisited the entire BBT catalog leading up to the release date of TLOU. It'll be hard to move on from Longdon's voice considering he was the voice of the band for about a dozen years, and helped produce more than half of their current discography. What an incredible impact he made upon the band, and its fans, for an awe-inspiring stretch of time.
But I think, in maybe 5 or 6 years, once the current line-up (or least any line-up with Alberto singing) puts out more and more music, we will come to accept the band as they are now, as they drive further along this track with Bravin and co., making their own way and their own sounds. BBT as a whole never seems content to stay in a single place musically for too long. Just look at the last three albums with Longdon - they're all similar but I'd say each one has unique influences and sounds throughout once you get to know those albums, and even comparing those three with the Folklore/Grimspound/TSBS trio, they're QUITE different.
Given how positvely received the new album is, I think we're in for another good run of albums from this line-up, and Bravin seems to be coming to the band with some great ideas both musically and lyrically. Yes, I am still saddened by the loss of David, but I am equally excited to see where the band heads next through the rest of the 2020s.
-Marc.