The Los Angeles indie rock trio Beware of Darkness hopes to bring both literary awareness and rock 'n' roll to the people. Pulling out all the classic guitar riffs it can for its opening single, "Howl"—a nod to both poet Allen Ginsberg and Led Zeppelin—the group foregoes the usual deep reverb of the '00s for a dry, nasty sound that's helped along by big-name producer Dave Sardy. (He's hardened the rock for Jet, Wolfmother, OK Go, and Marilyn Manson, and executive-produced and mixed Orthodox.) Guitar chords punch out for "Sweet Girl," and Kyle Nicolaides' vocals scrape the barroom floor for the wasted blues of "Ghost Town." Vocals take flight, however, for the classic low-key swagger of "All Who Remain." "Life on Earth?" wanders over to the piano, where the vocals turn to warbling. "Salvation Is Here" flirts with being an arena-cellphone ballad. Most interesting is the folksy acoustic number "Hummingbird," which is far more fitting for Nicolaides' tortured whine. The bonus track "Be My Exorcist" dives headfirst into Black Sabbath/Zeppelin/Soundgarden territory.