Since releasing their self-titled debut a year ago, the Mardo brothers have been rockin' their way nonstop all over the world, leaving hordes of screaming new fans in their wake. And now they're set to continue their global domination with a brand new line up that includes 19-year-old keyboard player Sonny Sly and no-holds-barred guitarist Coley Read.

The New Gun is the perfect soundtrack for a heavy party night. On their second outing, the Mardo brothers have polished their classic-rock roots into something shinier and more melodic - and much more danceable! Recorded in four furious weeks, the base tracks were recorded in their bedroom and living room before handing them over to Les Pierce, who put the final touches at his own home studio. The New Gun starts with a bang and never lets up. The opening "Lolita Live and Learn," mixed by rock legend Tom Lord-Alge, launches into Hollywood youthful excess and sets the pace for the rest of the record - fast, hard and infectious. "This is the song for the women in the front row," smiles Robert, who plays both guitars and drums on the album.

Part of Mardo's great success, both on stage and on disc, has been the element of surprise. Pushing musical boundaries is their specialty and they do it best on tracks like "Thin White Line," which starts off like a hard rock song only to take a sweet, and unexpected turn at the chorus and "Hide Your Mirrors" a track that finds its power in simplicity with amazing harmonies and an eerie pipe organ, finishing off with some heavy guitars. "Killer on a Dance Floor" is the wicked lovechild of Curtis Mayfield and Motley Crüe that is guaranteed to become a dance floor staple with its irresistible "shake it baby" refrain.

"We wanted something that could be played in clubs and on rock stations," offers Robert. "Like Elvis, the first rock 'n' roll was all danceable music and we wanted to bring it back to that. Don't get me wrong - we hate to dance! But there's nothing wrong with getting the girls shaking."

However, even hedonism has its balance and "Killer" is promptly followed by "The Healing," a power ballad that offers some insight into the space the band was in during the writing and recording of The New Gun.

"There was a lot of death around us - literally, nine people close to the band and our crew passed away in a month. This song is about that point in your life where you reach such a crescendo of hurt that it eventually transforms into a healing process," shares lead singer/bassist/older brother Aron. "If you can weather blow after blow after blow, then when you do heal, you heal stronger every time."

The raw emotion that pours out on "The Healing" is also the best example of their studio strategy - just let it all go and see where it lands.

"We really went with our gut on this record - more than we ever have before. We only had sketches of most of these songs when we went into the studio and that energy really comes across on the CD. When things turn out without having to force them, you get excited because you're just enjoying the whole process so much. That's why this record has so much raw energy and emotion - we were never beating ourselves up over it," Aron said.

If their cover of The Temptations' "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" - a longtime live fave - isn't hint enough of Mardo's appreciation for Motown soul, the title track, "Bang, Bang (The New Gun)," written by keyboardist Sonny Sly, will sledgehammer it home. A high-energy cut that kicks off with basic drums before blasting into a dirty mix of killer guitar riffs, horns and Aron's frantic yowls, "Bang, Bang" is a seductive fusion of funk and rock-imagine Prince sitting in on an AC/DC anthem.

The album closes with the plaintive "Just Remember," a track written for all the people the band leaves behind as they inevitably set out on tour. "Being on the road constantly, you end up missing major moments in people's lives - people you really care about, or you even find some people aren't even around anymore. But with this album, I feel we have accomplished what we set out to do and we will be going out on the road with a fevered passion and drive than ever before - we want to make a dent in the universe."