Though they’re the quintessential slowcore band, Low is seldom as quiet as that tag implies. Sure, the band plays slow, but the trio can also be as loud and heavy as many of their ’90s peers—on recent releases they’ve cranked up the volume to excellent effect. Low singer/guitarist Alan Sparhawk more explicitly indulges his rock fantasies with his side project Retribution Gospel Choir, which also includes Low bassist Steve Garrington. Without abandoning the searing tension that defines their primary band, they’ve pummeled their way through brooding, psychedelic rock over their three releases together, including their latest, this year’s 3. It’s their ballsiest record yet, featuring just two songs, each about 20 minutes long.