ATO

Adam Stephens (vocals/guitar) and Tyson Vogel (drums/ vocals) put Two Gallants on hold for the past several years, focusing on solo or side projects, and, in the case of Stephens, recovering from a van crash. The two childhood friends brought these experiences back to Two Gallants and turned them into The Bloom and the Blight, their most mature, cathartic and nuanced album to date. It’s everything fans love about the band: raw blues, timeless folk and explosive punk. There are also elements that recall Black Sabbath and grunge balanced by moments of wistful beauty, like the piano and acoustic guitar ballad “Sunday Souvenirs,” which includes a programmed drum beat and layered vocals that make it feel vaguely gospel. Breaks can kill some bands; it appears to have given Two Gallants new life.