[2] During the recording sessions, Haven singer Gary Briggs joined to the band and Rourke moved over to guitar.

[4] It's a Beautiful Life is an eclectic record,[1] and its sound has been described as "a heady mix of modern rock, dub, and Northern soul.

"[2] Hook's then-current band New Order was a major influence on the album's sound, particularly on the tracks "The God Machine," "Sister Surrender," "Plan B," and "You Don't Know (This About Me).

"[3] Alex Young of Consequence of Sound stated: "Not so eye-opening would be the general vibe — a warm nostalgia that you cannot quite place until the music stops and you’ve begun digging through respective members’ repertoires."

Young further added: "It's a Beautiful Life is peaceful in places, writhing in others, and, in total, ranks as a must-have for fans of any act seen in this article.