Relentless

The Line of Best Fit 8/10 Though time and age threaten to push one towards a reluctant retirement, it’s clear Hynde’s not giving in any time soon. Furthermore, as Relentless only adds to their great legacy, perhaps Hynde’s prime isn't as far behind as she once believed, but lingers just over the near horizon.

All Music 4/5 The Pretenders and Chrissie Hynde have more or less been interchangeable titles since the late '80s; at this point, a Pretenders album is whatever she says it is and Relentless is a good one.

Under The Radar 8.0/10 A beautifully sung treatise on love and loss, tastefully scored by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, brings the curtain down on a record that can sit proudly at the top table of The Pretenders’ work to date.

The Observer 4/5 The interplay between Chrissie Hynde and guitarist James Walbourne goes from strength to strength on the punk survivors’ 12th album.

Pop Matters 7/10 The title Relentless encourages expectations of a youthful, hard-rock Pretenders album, but it’s dominated by lost-love ballads and slow-burn confessionals.

The Telegraph 5/5 It’s amazing that, despite regular albums, The Pretenders haven’t had a top 20 LP for almost three decades. This album will surely change that. Contrary to what Hynde says, she clearly cares about rock and roll. Relentlessly so.

The Irish Times 3.5/5 Whatever Hynde had been missing before Walbourne came along was debatable, but since his arrival the Pretenders’ batteries have been recharged.