There will always be something tantalizing about the three-piece band that sparked a million basement musicians to play more feverishly. Responsible for memorable tracks such as “I Feel Mysterious” and the epic debut Pinkflag, many things have been said about post-punk pioneers Wire, but perhaps “balanced” is not a popular description.

However, after a career spanning the decades, Wire understands how to pace an album to foster equilibrium. Red Barked Tree embraces the juxtaposition of rough and polished elements, which is a recognizable and indelible link to the band’s impressive discography.

Manifesting with stately strumming, “Adapt” glows with increasing clarity, and is a counterpoint to the sonic jabs and spoken lyrics of “Two Minutes,” which commands attention with its downright frightening growls and fuzzy feedback-ridden cacophony. True to its title, “Smash” clamors with irreverent lyrics, and “Down to This” switches gears to deliver a marvelous lovelorn aria.

Red Barked Tree captures the sharp and fiery hallmark defined by Colin Newman, Graham Lewis and Robert Grey some thirty-odd years ago to strike a pressure point relevant to younger generations. Faithful to the band’s founding glory, Red Back Tree is incendiary.

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