Stream Drenge’s New Album, ‘Undertow’

In advance of next week's release (April 7) of their sophomore album Undertow, English alt-rock duo Drenge are streaming the album in its entirety via NPR's First Listen.

Befitting its title, Undertow sees siblings Rory and Eoin Loveless expanding on the moody, atmospheric side of their sound while also preserving the brawny riffs and angst that that anchored their self-titled debut. A perfect case in point: the song "Favourite Son," which is driven by a hyperactive -- even crude -- guitar line that retraces alternative rock's roots in punk but then downshifts dramatically into a dreamy, contemplative swirl complete with Jim Morrisson-esque vocals trailing off like wisps of smoke.

Indeed, Undertow is defined by how fully the Loveless brothers have embraced production. They opted to work with producer Ross Orton (Arctic Monkeys, Jarvis Cocker) following their relocation from their native small town of Castleton to the city of Sheffield (which is also home to Arctic Monkeys and Pulp). Along with special guest bassist Rob Graham (alum of blues-rock duo Wet Nuns), the brothers and Orton drape these songs in evocative sonic scenery that makes for a most absorbing listening experience.

Like the suggestive album cover that depicts a car swerved slightly off a wooded road at night, Undertow packs a punch as much for what it doesn't spell out as much as for angsty cries of defiance like "We Can Do What We Want"; stream the album here.