Screeching guitars, soulful undertones, brooding lyrics, and explosive live shows helped the Afghan Whigs build a devout fan base and influence a wealth of bands that came after them. While they never saw the commercial success other bands did in their heyday, there weren’t many that were better at what Greg Dulli and company did. From a raw punk beginning they evolved into a band that employed a wealth of sounds – rock, soul, punk, and grunge – to produce original tunes that captivated listeners from all ends of the musical universe.

After a lengthy hiatus with a few reunion shows smattered here and there, the Whigs have reformed and unleashed a new album, Do To The Beast, their first collection of new material in 16 years. As veteran bands emerge from an extended break to release a new record, more often than not listeners are treated to music that rehashes the past in an attempt to recapture the glory days. The albums tend to be stale and listless as they finish old incomplete tracks or do a mediocre job writing new tunes.

Have no fear, because none of that exists here. Instead of going through the motions, the Afghan Whigs have created an album that harnesses the dark soulfulness of their past and scrambles it with new fresh sounding rhythms. Instead of a continuation they have evolved. The album explodes with the chunky “Parked Outside”; bordering on chaos, Dulli’s vocals weave their way through violent beats and sharp guitar riffs before emerging safely out the other side. “Algiers” is an acoustic guitar heavy tune that shows a bit of a lighter side, while “Lost In The Woods” gets dark as haunting melodies litter the soundscape.

The one song that stands out has to be “Royal Cream.” A juggernaut of a song, blistering guitars infiltrate listener’s ears clearing the way for Dulli’s angry voice to follow.

Not expecting a whole lot from the record, Do To The Beast is definitely a pleasant surprise. There is never a dull moment as the Afghan Whigs up the bar with each song. A perfect complement to their collection it holds its own against any of their other albums and may turn out to be one of your favorites.

(Sub Pop Records, 2013 Fourth Avenue Third Floor, Seattle, WA, 98121)