Garbage passed through Brazil just over a month ago, performing a show that revisited the greatest hits of their 32-year career. For fans, it was an impeccable and delightful presentation. Curiously, they didn’t take the opportunity to introduce any new material — something many bands do when working on a new album. That only piqued my curiosity further: “What did we miss?” As it turns out, quite a lot, judging by the first listen of Let All That We Imagine Be the Light.

The American band was formed in 1993 by Shirley Manson, Butch Vig, Duke Erikson, and Steve Marker, and quickly stood out on the alternative rock scene by blending grunge and electronic elements into a distinctive sound that became their signature. Their debut album, Garbage (1995), was critically acclaimed and catapulted them to iconic status. Over the years, the band released a string of important works, such as Version 2.0 (1998), Beautiful Garbage (2001), Bleed Like Me (2005), Not Your Kind of People (2012), Strange Little Birds (2016), and No Gods No Masters (2021), consolidating their place in music with an intense sound and lyrics that touch on personal and social issues.

After a four-year hiatus, partly due to lead singer Shirley Manson’s health issues, Garbage returned in 2025 with their eighth studio album, Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, which represents a shift from the more critical and political tone of their previous work. This time, the band embraces a more hopeful and constructive message, aiming to transmit strength and positivity during difficult times. Shirley Manson, the band’s lead singer and central figure, revealed that the creative process was deeply influenced by her personal experiences, including a hip replacement surgery that left her temporarily debilitated — a circumstance that shaped her writing and brought a new perspective to the songs. Recorded in various studios, including Manson’s own bedroom, the album blends heavy guitars, dense synths, and her emotive vocals into tracks like “There’s No Future in Optimism” and “The Day That I Met God,” which explore themes of resilience, empowerment, and the search for meaning.

Let All That We Imagine Be the Light marks a new chapter in the band’s journey, offering a record that may initially surprise listeners with its hopeful tone. Manson’s recovery from surgery leaves a sensitive imprint on the lyrics, which speak of healing, renewal, and inner strength. It’s a body of work that, despite the bleakness of the contemporary world, dares to believe in light — not as a hollow cliché, but as an active gesture of resistance and rebuilding.

Musically, the album moves through a variety of textures, combining sharp guitars, atmospheric synths, and pulsating beats to create a soundscape that sometimes echoes the band’s classic alt-rock roots, while also experimenting with more ethereal and electronic moods. This diversity is a strength, allowing listeners to journey through intense moments as well as more meditative passages — like “The Day That I Met God,” a standout track that balances delicate vocals with dense instrumental layers.

However, while the album’s production is generally well-balanced, some choices may not sit well with more traditional fans. At times, the pursuit of a “cleaner” and more polished sound seems to soften the raw edge and emotional impact that originally made Garbage such a powerful band.

Lyrically, the album departs from the satirical and critical tone that defined much of their earlier work, opting instead for a more direct and introspective language. It’s an inward journey, where Manson explores fear, doubt, and hope with a vulnerability that enriches the album, even if it feels less provocative to those who prefer the sarcasm and combativeness of past records.

Ultimately, this is an album that reflects both a personal and artistic transition, offering a breath of fresh air and a new perspective without sacrificing the band’s core identity. It invites listeners to look inward amidst external chaos — a search for light that, while not always radical, is profoundly sincere and needed. For fans who’ve followed the band since the ’90s, it may take some adjustment. But for those willing to embrace this new phase, the album offers rich sonic rewards and emotional honesty.