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Although a firm favourite amongst critics, his ideas on the mixing desk don't always work (U2's lack of drum punch during the intro of The Streets Have No Name comes to mind). Thankfully, his influence on this album is not as noticeable to these ears, although some would beg to differ.

After the hugely successful X&Y, Chris Martin and co take off in a slightly new direction. No melancholic piano ballads here, but there is an overall darker tone, with religion seemingly the understated common denominator. Standout tracks for me include Cemeteries of London and the title track Viva La Vida. Worth a listen.