Kevin Bronson on February 9th, 2015

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Year-and-a-half-old L.A. trio the Electric West spring from the same, gnarled post-punk tree that yielded Interpol, Bauhaus, Gang of Four and Joy Division. Last year the band released an LP titled “The Dusty Trails Demo,” which for all its sturdy parts sounded like the DIY affair it was. But now the threesome — Lee Lewallen, Byron Pagdilao and Dee Fuzz — are prepping a new release, “Verdugo,” due on March 21 via Future Force Records. Like their post-punk forefathers, the Electric West embrace political and social themes, but the new single “Portland” is about driving to Oregon. It’s a rager nonetheless — dense and loud and foreboding. Don’t wear anything but black.

||| Stream: “Portland”