Mission of Burma, 'The Sound the Speed the Light' (Matador)

Grizzled indie-punk icons mine rough diamonds.

The reunion seems to be working out. On their third stellar album after a nearly two-decade hiatus, the Boston art punks unleash more thoughtful brutality, with harried voices, slashing guitars, and rattling drums converting innocent pop tunes into primal catharsis. Always tempting chaos, Burma suck everything from prog rock ("SSL 83") to folk ("Forget Yourself") into their thrilling vortex, though the belligerence of "Blunder" and "So Fuck It" makes the strongest first impression.

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