Alan Sparhawk, Mimi Parker, and Zak Sally have ensured their legacy as important figures in indie music. Low will go down in history as one of the most important exponents of the slow-core style, but their latest record, The Great Destroyer, demonstrates that the band can craft more mainstream indie rock as well. There were hints of this move toward faster tempi on their previous full length, Trust, which positioned several songs away from slow-core's largo regions towards mid-tempo; it seemed like a positively seismic shift in comparison to their previous work. The material on The Great Destroyer goes still further, allowing the group's fetching vocals to be highlighted in positively "single-worthy contexts."

A raucous opening synth gliss leads into the heavy drumming and distorted rhythm guitars of "Monkey," featuring Low's trademark two-part harmonies in its repeating hook. Songs like "California," "Step," and "Just Stand Back" feature chugging riffs and eminently catchy choruses. "Everybody's Song" has an earnest verse, buoyed by a strongly articulated backbeat from Parker and economical guitar playing from Sparhawk.

Lest you think that Low has turned their back on their slow-core roots, "Cue the Strings" combines a stream of lush, slow music with a syncopated percussive underpinning. "Silver Rider" is an achingly beautiful, ambling song on which layered vocals and reverberant guitars open up into a heavenly harmony during the chorus. On The Great Destroyer, Low has managed a delicate balancing act, substantially overhauling their songwriting approach while keeping some of the best facets of their music-making firmly intact. - Christian Carey