mstrkrft

MSTRKRFT (pronounced Master Kraft) returns with the high-powered and relentless Fist of God. Following their 2006 release The Looks, members Al-P and Jesse Keeler deliver non-stop synths, producing a harder sound even more tailor-made for a drunken dance floor. Tracks like "It Ain't Love," "1000 Cigarettes" and "Click Click" shine as examples of a newfound intensity, with a devout bass synth on every beat and frenzied electronica coming in from all sides. But what makes these songs stand out in the sea of Hype Machine remixes are the synthesizers that imitate distorted, finger-tapped guitars. It's like Metallica playing Guitar Hero at a rave.

Single "Bounce" features rappers N.O.R.E. and Isis locked in a "point/counterpoint" concerning who parties more. Such senseless repetition annoys my sober ears, but so would half the music that kills when the drinks are flowing (I'm looking at you, "Just Dance"). As with most singles, "Bounce" is the most mainstream track on the album. Thankfully, it's not what defines Fist of God.

For the rest of the release, the Toronto-based duo returns to their successful formula of robotic vocals and sampled drum kits. Hi-hats open and close with computerized precision on the title track, which will leave few old fans disappointed-or sitting still.

Fist of God is definitely one of those albums I wouldn't consider putting on before midnight or with any fewer than 12 people in the room. But when the table tops are full and the strobe is pulsing, I know what I'm typing in to iTunes after "Every Time We Touch."