On their third outing, Leaving It all Behind, Reunion 69 emerges from the swamp to unearth an album seething with murky blues and beguiling guitar craftsmanship. Over the course of the album, the duo of Mario Gagliano (guitar, vocals) and Danny O’Brien (drums, vocals)—cousins from the suburbs of New Orleans—shows a fine knack for producing garage-rock gems held together by heavy rhythms and blustery riffs.

After embarking on the rough-edged funk of “Lipstick Lady,” the trip rolls right on through the beat-down blues of “True Life.” While “American Steel” is classic-rock thunder that calls forth the sound of the Black Keys, it’s the grungy hooks of “Weekend Ride” that give the journey its final jolt.

Throughout the album, O’Brien and Gagliano masterfully steer its progression, guiding each tune with restraint rather than grinding away at the throttle. That’s not to say that the drive’s not without danger. Hardly! Reunion 69’s instinctive command over Leaving It all Behind’s jagged cuts and blistering turns is what elevates and enlivens its rambunctious fire—especially when Gagliano’s hypnotic guitar licks rail through O’Brien’s dissonant vocals and clamorous percussion.