FLOOD

The UK stoner-metal outfit’s fifth studio album is another collection of pummelling, heavy thrills, the sound of grimy darkness being warped into something transcendently fun.

The noise-rock trio’s first full-length in 11 years has all the punch and zip of a debut statement, and even feels a degree or two more thrillingly lean than its predecessors.

Calling back to the “big swing” pop-punk records from the turn of the millennium, the Connecticut band’s sophomore release is emotionally intelligent and impressively fine-tuned.

Fusing together the stripped-bare ambient-pop and dancier art-pop of the trilogy’s previous titles, the Bloc Party vocalist’s latest project often feels both overstuffed and too restrained.

The UK duo hurls hand grenades in the direction of contemporary society’s myriad ills across their riotously fun yet deadly serious indie-punk debut.

This new collected discography celebrating the upbeat, joy-emanating guitar-rockers polishes up their all-too-brief run while including a few new surprises. High-fives all around.

The breathless riffs, ferocious pace, and veteran sense of security that define this debut album from the metalcore supergroup feel like the work of a band desperate to escape their history.

John Dwyer details the “tightened up and screwed down” sci-fi punk of his prolific band’s 29th full-length.