On my way home from the bakery, I saw a black crow sunbathing on a road sign, glowing golden in the warm morning light. It was literally a beautiful metaphor for the hot-blooded music coming from my headphones: The Internal Theater, the grungy new full-length album by Californian indie rock band Archer Oh.

Arturo “Archie” Medrano (vocals, guitar), Diego Jacuinde (lead guitar), Juan Cabrera (bass) and Pedro Hernandez (drums) unite dark and light, and loud and quiet, in ten restless songs with haunting lyrics, inventive guitar parts, a dynamic rhythm section, and impassioned vocals. It is an enthralling spectacle, both musically and lyrically: “Softly, never go softly // Was it enough? Wasn’t it right? // The serpents slither up and and down // Where you survived // I don’t know how” (from 25 To 1). Introspection meets intensity, way more impressive than a golden crow.

The Internal Theater, produced by Sean Cook, is out now digitally through Rainbow Road Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp