Sixth studio album from Toronto's Metric. Pagans In Vegas continues the focus on the binary between authenticity and artificiality from previous albums. Front woman Emily Haines, who's also spent time as part of Broken Social Scene, leads the charge for the humans as the synths and drum machines pound away. Metric seems to have gotten deeper into the new wave influences that popped up on earlier albums. There are traces of Depeche Mode throughout the album. This is especially evident on opening track "Lie Lie Lie" and mid-album highlight "Too Bad, So Sad," which both channel "Personal Jesus," and the "Precious" aping "For Kicks." This makes the album all that much more fun. Includes the songs: "Fortunes," "Cascades," and "Other Side." Twelve tracks in all. Released by Metric Music International on Coke Bottle Clear double vinyl with gatefold sleeve and download code.

• Coke Bottle Clear double vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• includes free download
• music label: Metric Music International 2015

reviewed by Hank Ohs 09/2015