The word coming out from the Foo Fighters camp about this, their sixth album, was that it would be a mellow thing influenced in particular by Steely Dan. Rolling Stone magazine got an advance copy and informed its readers that there were large dollops of ’70s rock, Led Zeppelin, and late era Beatles influences apparent. To this listener, though, the main influence shining through Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace are the Foo Fighters.

Now, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. No-one could argue that, since releasing the first album which was effecitvely a Dave Grohl solo record, this band have created a potent mix of stadium rock that is unmistakeably their own. What’s not on show here, though, is any real progress. With innovation largely lacking, what’s required should be an album bursting through with great tunes – but, while there are two or three ones that will no doubt become ‘classics’ in their live set, there’s not enough to make this album anything more than just another foo fighters record. Echoes of former glories, more than anything else.

Foo fans will be up in arms with this verdict, and will no doubt cite the bluegrass instrumental Ballad of the Beaconsfielf Miners (written for two trapped Tasmanian Miners), as a sure sign of innovation – or the fact that Grohl plays piano on two closing tracks on the album. They’d be wrong though – as the former belongs solely in a quarter-full tuesday night folk session, and the latter are as convincing as Jon Bon Jovi’s finer ballads.

The moments that work on the album, like the fine Long Road to Ruin remind you that the Foo Fighters are a force to be reckoned with – and truth be told, there are no ‘bad’ songs on the album. It’s just that – as has been the case for some time – you get the nagging feeling that this is a band that could do so much better.