There's a ringing majesty to "Turpentine", the first single from The Manvils’ new self-titled album, released through upstart Vancouver indie label Sandbag Records on August 11, 2009. With his throaty howl in tow, the thunderous sound of Mikey Manville’s pearly white 1956 Gibson Les Paul Jr. is a beefy double time beat amidst a chiming wall of guitars. It’s the first single off a decisive and strong-willed record, and with expectations as high as they were, it had to be.

With Hollywood actor...