The Physical World

This Canadian noise-punk duo made one promising full-length album in 2004 before calling it quits. Returning a decade later, they're still crushing violent, angular riffs (see the hellacious "Government Trash"), but they're also writing catchier songs that bring out conventional rock influences. "Right on, Frankenstein!" is hummable Halloween-themed punk metal; "White Is Red" has dynamics worthy of a Queens of the Stone Age tune; and "Cheap Talk" is a catchier version of the late-Seventies U.K. dance rock that ruled hipster clubs during DFA1979's first run – a throwback to a throwback that's better the second time around.