The Hoodoo Gurus - Chariot of the Gods (Big Time/Universal)

Following their 2010 album, the excellent Purity of Essence, the Hoodoo Gurus seemed to have settled into being a repertoire band, content to play the hits and deep cuts to a loyal fanbase all over the world. But looks can be deceiving, as the arrival of Chariot of the Gods makes clear. Spurred on, like so many others, by the lack of live activity during the pandemic, the Australian legends got down to business writing and recording new songs for their first album in a dozen years. Unsurprisingly, singer Dave Faulkner, guitarist Brad Shepherd, bassist Rick Grossman and drummer Nik Rieth (the new kid at only seven years in the band) don’t reinvent their own wheel here, even as the balance between power pop and garage rock favors the latter. You’ve got your fist-pumpers (“World of Pain,” “Don’t Try to Save My Soul”), your sarcastic singalongs (“Hang With the Girls,” “Equinox”), your acid-cracked weirdos (the title track), your surprisingly serious brooders (“My Imaginary Friend,” “Was I Supposed to Care?”), your lighter-wavers (“Carry On”) and an album-closer that somehow pays tribute to Lou Reed and the Beatles at the same time (“Got to Get You Out of My Life”). Tougher and (relatively) heavier than Purity, Chariot rocks harder in general, but doesn’t stint on the band’s trademark singalong melodies. Another smashing Hoodoo Gurus album, obviously.