Prizefighter

Recorded in a speedy ten days with the Nationals Aaron Dessner at the helm, Mumford & Sons sixth long-player arrives just a year after 2025s Rushmere. Prizefighter sees the band trusting their instincts, pairing earnest reflection with stomp-clap folk-pop musicality that favors emotion over reinvention. Opener "Here," featuring a gruff and grounded Chris Stapleton, leans into rugged, Brit-wrapped Americana with conviction, "Conversations with My Son" taps into white gospel, while the galvanizing "Run Together," drenched in orchestral flourish, draws from the same sonic lexicon as Sigh No More-era faves like "Little Lion Man" and "The Cave." Prizefighter is marginally better than its predecessor, dispelling some of the awkwardness of a long hiatus and reinforcing Mumford & Sons reputation as purveyors of quality comfort food. Its hopeful, reflective, safe, and deeply rooted in the folk and country traditions the band knows intimately. ~ James Christopher Monger