Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
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  1. Apr 20, 2026
    80
    Whether this record is a swan song or the beginning of a very late-career renaissance remains to be seen, but, like the band’s previous releases, Sanctions is perfect for the moment and likely to prove another timeless treasure for those perceptive few.
  2. Apr 20, 2026
    75
    Musically speaking, not much has changed since we left the band some 30 years back with Notes Campfire, and that’s a good thing. The duo’s vocals now are more time worn and given Grigoroff’s more downcast songs and lyrics, there is a lot weighing on him.
  3. Apr 20, 2026
    72
    Like the band’s classic LPs, Sanctions locates a strange beauty in plaintive sadness and offers no easy answers, just the feeling of being let into a secret world you don’t entirely understand.
  4. Uncut
    Apr 20, 2026
    70
    Their sound is accordingly pared down, the overall tone downbeat and perhaps appropriately rueful. [May 2026, p.34]

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