Kings of Leon Ease Into Their Throne On O My Beloved
Daniel Corretjer-Rios
Senior Editor, Music Lead
November 9, 2026
Kings of Leon have had a long career, to say the least. Over the span of two decades, they transitioned from making garage southern rock to crafting anthems that fill arenas. However, on O My Beloved, listeners find them settling into something quieter. It is an acoustic-leaning record built on country-folk warmth, beautifully crafted with a sentimental, soft touch. The main problem with the record, though, is how rarely the band feels compelled to do anything different from one song to the next.
The record opens with its best track, "My Whole World." It is a simple, sleek, and peaceful acoustic piece about family, friends, and all the joys life has to offer. The song manages to sound ordinary and ethereal at the same time. The vocals are flawless, and it feels as if Kings of Leon have mastered the sound of fully realized southern folk. This track truly speaks to the band's songwriting ability, both lyrically and sonically.
Then comes "Cold Blue Dawn," where the record takes a turn into classic rock territory. Thoughtful songwriting and a well-placed solo keep the track engaging, even if it remains straightforward. "The Hand" follows, carrying the same traits except for a softer tone. Even when the instrumentation isn't entirely captivating, Kings of Leon's expertise in lyricism makes up for it.
Nevertheless, the problem mentioned earlier arises midway through the album. Each song's identity begins to blur into the next. "Rose," "Make It Count," and "KOYSAR" aren't badly written songs; however, in the context of the album, they are repetitive, sharing the same pace, textures, and mood. After such a strong opening stretch, the album starts to feel like the same song spoken in different dialects, and all the momentum that was built diminishes.
"Feel the Love" is the first track that stands out after that unfortunate stretch. It has a groove that the surrounding tracks lack, featuring a smooth, sweet chorus and another well-placed solo. Again, although the arrangement is simple, the textures are rich. "Blue Jeans and Diamonds" is clean and ethereal, with instrumental textures that fly by for a split second, leaving you feeling like you are floating. "Warn Company" signals that the album has fully recovered, boasting its own cadence, groove, and powerful, emotional vocals.
The back end of the record struggles with consistency. While "Pretty Thing" doesn't leave much of an impression, "Forever Endeavor" is a track with great pacing and structure. It begins with a simple bassline and progressively adds layers upon layers, until finally, at the end, the ethereal textures, guitars, and strings all arrive at once, making the song well worth the wait. The closer, "Get You Down," ends the record on a warm and comforting note. It isn't the highest of highs, but it gives the album the closure it deserves.
O My Beloved features some lovely moments and clearly showcases that the band's songwriting is still in great shape. The album is certainly not perfection, but it stands as proof that the band continues to grow and reinvent its craft year after year.
Edited by: Jade Read
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