"The album is like musical theatre," says The Janks' Dylan Zmed [Vocals, Guitar, Keys, Percussion] of his band's forthcoming release Hands of Time. "The first half develops the plot of a young boy who comes from a broken home, while the second reflects the visceral intensity of growing up from separated roots. At the end, we see there's possibility for change."

The Janks offer a change for rock 'n' roll on Hands of Time. On songs like the title track and "Dead Man," guitars careen with an e...