KMFDM, "Hyëna" (Metropolis). Shakalaka! Sascha Konientzko is back with that hilarious political dancefloor thud. This time the noise spins in a remarkably listenable direction thanks to guitarist Andee Blacksugar, whose funk, boogie and spaghetti-Western riffs pump fun frosting onto the Casbah belly beat, reggae, punk rock and four-on-the-floor laid down by longtime drummer Andy Selway -- and on the title track, dig the soccer-chant coda with equally experienced voxter Lucia Cifarelli. Although the silliness quotient rises after the first half, KMFDM, nearly 40 years in the trenches, pins the energy meters.
Megadeth, "The Sick, the Dying . . . and the Dead" (Tradecraft/Universal). Ultraclean production strips out Dave Mustaine's tight songcraft, the band's storytelling/shredding lead-guitar work, and the rhythmic telepathy between guitarist Kiko Laureiro and drummer Dirk Verbeuren. It's classic thrash-metal all the way, but with enough gear-grinding changes to hold the interest of non-teenagers. Best tracks: the marching "Life in Hell" ("I'm addicted to myself!"); the dynamic, catchy "Killing Time"; and the hesitation-riffing title track, with its funereal bridge. Dave's a great raspy singer throughout, throat cancer in the rear mirror, but he also sure talks a lot. Of note: "Soldier On!," perhaps Mustaine's approach to "My Way."
Fallujah, "Empyrean" (Nuclear Blast). Yes, there is death metal in outer space. Making records since 2011, NoCal's Fallujah rely on the chemistry and contrast between the furious drums and versatile guitars of childhood friends Andrew Baird and Scott Carstairs, which explode, expand and collapse like stars as we listen and visualize from a godlike distance. The intense conversations ("Radiant Ascension"), measured grandiosity ("Embrace Oblivion") and choppy speed prog ("Soulbreaker"/"Duality of Intent"), accompanied by a host of angelic guest vocalists, can twitch your feet and cleanse your cortex within the same song. Quite a workout, but you might smile.