Band of Skulls, In Studio

The British trio Band of Skulls released its fourth album, By Default, this spring, full of riff-laden rock that grows out of the same bluesy legacy that has spawned bands from Led Zeppelin to the White Stripes. Originally from Southampton, the trio started by playing London bars, but by dint of constant touring reached the status of major-venue headliner around the world. Now, they’ve circled back to Southampton, retreating from the road to make an album that they describe as a return to “square one.” Today, they’ve stripped down their songs to their, um, skeletal core.