However, they are taking the risk at a time in their career when bridging the gap between being boyband heartthrobs and becoming a relevant adult contemporary act is no easy feat. Lead single and title track 'In A World LIke This' - produced by Max Martin and co - is the obvious album opener here, even if it does tread dangerously close to One Direction cast-off territory.
The first half plods along with a series of arena-ready choruses and arm-swaying melodies that are neither exciting enough to light up the charts or bad enough to turn them into an ageing boyband parody. 'Permanent Stain' - dodgy titles aside - is awash with earworm synths and a nearly-glorious hook, while 'Breathe' is a mid-tempo ballad that has echoes of their past glories.
That said, it's in the second half where things really start to pick up. 'One Phone Call' is full of heartbreaker's regret before it pelts you with a chant-along chorus, while BSB turn up the amps for 'Feels Like Home' with its globe-trotting brags. 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)' it's not, but it's a reassuring return to pop for the fivesome nonetheless.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/albumreviews/a502137/backstreet-boys-in-a-world-like-this-album-review.html
