Kevin Bronson on February 7th, 2012

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This should surprise no one who’s followed U.K. trio Band of Skulls since they arrived on this shores in 2009: Their new album “Sweet Sour” is a scorcher. Out today via iTunes (and next week in general release), the follow-up to “Baby Darling Doll Face Honey” flexes every muscle a power trio can. Guitarist Russell Marsden, bassist Emma Richardson and drummer Matt Hayward work the loud/soft dynamic brashly; they can segue from sludgy to bluesy to psychedelic in a heartbeat; and the conjugal vocals of Marsden and Richardson suggest all manner of excess. You’ve heard variations on all this before, of course, but while the flavors on “Sweet Sour” taste familiar, Band of Skulls’ sophomore album is so bold you’ll want another round.

||| Download: “Sweet Sour” as the iTunes free Single of the Week.

||| Live: Band of Skulls plays April 15 and 22 at Coachella.

||| Also: After the jump, check out the video for “The Devil Takes Care of His Own”: