The second time out, North Wales’ The Joy Formidable do even more with less. Though the band are just a trio, their sound is growing. Part of that brilliance is brought to the surface by album mixer Andy Wallace, who worked similar magic with another power trio—Nirvana—and here makes The Joy Formidable sound like an even more confident band than the one on its debut album, the excellent The Big Roar. Interestingly, vocal and guitar parts were said to have been recorded in Maine, with drums and orchestral and choir pieces overdubbed afterwards in London. Whatever the process, “Maw Maw Song” is a tough punch to the gut; tribal rhythms and sweeping melody create an anthem worthy of The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys and U2. Singer/guitarist Ritzy Bryan uses the group’s shoegaze background to create a grand, arena-filling sound. Yet it’s her vocals—which range from dreamlike to angry and pointed (“Forest Serenade”)—that create a strong sense of melody and keep the songs from becoming mere pleasantries. Impressive.