Toronto’s bass and drum duo return with their first album after abruptly calling it a day 8 years ago. The band pleasantly shocked fans when they equally as abruptly reunited in 2011, which included a literally riotous SXSW set that same year. It’s also been 10 years since their previous album, “I’m A Woman, You’re A Machine”, so saying their fans have been anxiously awaiting this album is a bit of an understatement.

On “The Physical World”, the band at times sound a little dancier, a little poppier, but no less thrashier than before. Listeners are still ambushed with Jesse Keeler’s thick and fuzzy bass riffs. Also returning in fine form is the sass of Sebastian Grainger’s vocals and solid drumming. More prominent key and synth parts flourish on several of the albums songs, but not intrusively.

Wisely chosen as the first single is “Trainwreck 1979” capturing the band’s familiar sound in the beginning, before jumping to arguably their catchiest hook in the chorus with falsetto “oohs” and dashes of keys to accompany it.  The album standouts however are “White Is Red”, their poppiest sounding song thus far and the roaring “Always On”, the band’s most metal moment.

“The Physical World” captures the duo expanding their musical palette with an 11 song set that also sounds like a natural progression from “You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine” despite the huge gap in between. Here’s hoping there won’t be another 10 year wait for their next album!