I'm not saying they should write the same album again, but I just don't want them to change too hard in any direction.
This is really its own thread, but I often think along these lines. I don't need bands to continually reinvent themselves, once they find a sound that suits their strengths I'm fine with them sticking to it. If I want a different sound than that there are thousands and thousands of other bands I can listen to.
TBH, I feel it should be a compromise between those two positions. Artists should continue to grow and change album to album. My favorite musical act, the original lineup of Queensryche, changed their sound from album to album. But the thing that I feel is important, is that bands, particularly ones that taste success, as they get three or four albums deep, need to realize what their strengths are, and not forget about them. Recognize what makes you distinct, and don't forget about that.
It's a very fine line, and not many bands really can take themselves out of their art to see it. But some do.
On that note, I discovered UTA with Apex. I liked the album before it okay, thought the releases prior to that were okay. Abyss let me down a bit. I felt they got a little too synth and melodic. The first song they released from this new album, I wasn't impressed either. So, I am not listening to the second song. I have the record on pre-order. I'll listen when I get it. My daughter, however, loves Abyss, and loved the first new tune. So it'll be what it is.