Loud, proud and ferocious, Jason & The Scorchers come roaring back into the limelight with Halcyon Times. Singer/guitarist Jason Ringenberg and lead guitarist Warner Hodges pack this seminal group’s first album in 14 years with strong new songs and aggressive attitude. Newly recruited drummer Pontus Snibb and bassist Al Collins inject extra octane into such hellacious tracks as “Mona Lee,” “Gettin’ Nowhere Fast” and “We’ve Got it Goin’ On.” As a vocalist, Ringenberg dives into upbeat tunes like “Fear Not Gear Rot” and “Better Than This” with plenty of snarl and swagger. Just as importantly, he delivers such folk-rooted working man’s narratives as “Mother of Greed” and “Beat On the Mountain” with populist conviction. For his part, Hodges unleashes some of the most visceral axework he’s mustered in decades, particularly on the acoustic/electric track “Land of the Free.” “Twang Town Blues” stands out as a moody slice of prime Southern rock. Throughout, Jason and the Scorchers reaffirm the wild-eyed energy of their early work while making a case for their contemporary relevance.