It was back in 2005 when Bloc Party released its debut full-length, Silent Alarm, and while it may seem not that long ago, in pop culture terms, it might as well be 50 billion years. At the time, rock music was experiencing a re-emergence of guitar bands who felt comfortable rubbing elbows with the club scene and making people dance. Bloc Party seemingly captured that moment, specifically with the Gang of Four–inspired single “Banquet.” Then that moment was over. But rather than belabor the point, the band slowly began to incorporate electronic influences into the mix until gradually the scrappy group from 2005 seemed well in the rearview. Inevitable solo outings by lead singer Kele Okereke eventually followed, along with extended breaks between records and subsequently an indefinite hiatus.

It’s been four years since the band’s last record, the appropriately titled Four, but Bloc Party has returned to action with Hymns (Vagrant Records). It’s an interesting time for the band. Four was touted as a bit of a course correction and return to form, but the album was nearly the group’s last. During the time away, bassist Gordon Moakes and drummer Matt Tong left the band, so anyone waiting for a remake of the Silent Alarm–era will likely have to stop holding their breath. Instead, the approach taken on Hymns is like that of previous records’ blend of electronics. It’s decidedly not the sound of four cats in a room, but rather the product of laboring over laptops, which in itself is not a bad thing. There are some truly interesting moments, such as the opening track, “The Love Within,” and a tension from playing both sides of the fence that resembles the spirit of the band’s heyday if not its sound.

What doesn’t sit as well is Okereke’s lyrics. Hymns is purported to be inspired in part by the gospel music of his youth, resulting in a plainspoken directness. To be fair, he was never an intricate wordsmith, but this time around there are lines that feel clumsy. Perhaps the music did more of the heavy lifting in the past, but instances which should be heartfelt wind up being cringe-inducing. For example, on “Fortress,” Okereke croons, “These sheets of ours shield our bodies like a fortress. They keep us safe from harm.” Um, sure the lyric is direct and clear, but not much else. There are times when it does work, but only when the band makes up for the lyrical weakness musically, as on “Only He Can Heal Me,” which is guilty of the same lyrical sins, but is so strong you can let it ride.

Hymns is probably not be the Bloc Party record you want, especially if you’ve happened to miss the last two records entirely. (If you’re up-to-date, results may vary.) If nothing else, the record will buy the band time to figure out what the next step is. Meanwhile, there are worst ways to spend 47 minutes.