Despite being named after a Vladimir Nabokov novel (and an album by The Fall) and having an album sharing a title with a classic 1977 Pink Floyd set, the Vancouver-based quartet Bend Sinister cite Queen, Rush, and Supertramp as primary influences. They start their Animals with “Best of You,” an eight-and-a-half-minute prog rock anthem that shows just how serious these guys are when it comes to plundering the history of rock ’n’ roll to turn out their own attack. The band have been together for 13 years, and in that time they've honed their musical chops to an enviable dexterity and schooled themselves on an "alternate history of rock" where punk never showed up to simplify things and bands like Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers thrived for decades. Even listeners who grew up in the punk era can find themselves seduced by the catchy riffs and playful tunes of “I Got Love” and “Better Things to Do,” as well as the hard rock tributes of “Thunder and Lightning,” “Teacher,” and “Seventeen,” where Bend Sinister show they can play the blues when the spirit moves them.