Kevin Bronson on December 7th, 2009

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By Viktor Phoenix

Think of Toronto power trio Danko Jones as the AC/DC side of Andrew WK’s party coin.

From counting Bad Brains, Slint and Jesus Lizard as influences, to touring with Turbonegro and Blonde Redhead, Jones – whose band landed a slot as the opening act on the Canadian leg of Guns N’ Roses arena tour starting Jan. 13 – does some pretty hardcore indie-rock name checking for the frontman of a straight-ahead rock and roll band. One listen to the band’s latest album, “Never Too Loud,” though, and it’s obvious that these guys do not take themselves as serious as most indie-rock bands. They love listening music, they love playing music, and, as they displayed in a September show at the Viper Room, they love to rock.

The album was released in Europe last year but did not receive a U.S. release until this fall. It was recorded at 606, Dave Grohl’s studio, with producer Nick Raskulinecz, (Rush, Foo Fighters, Coheed & Cambria, Stone Sour and Velvet Revolver), and Jones calls it the band’s “California record.”

“There are a lot of sounds on this record that sound … not happy, but you can tell that there’s an outside influence,” he says. “It’s Nick Raskulinecz at the production helm, but it’s also being in L.A. and soaking up the sunny vibe.”

||| Download: “Code of the Road”

||| Live: Danko Jones opens for Danish rockers Volbeat on Wednesday at the Troubadour