Heartless Bastards’ smoky, late-night AOR exists somewhere between Royal Trux and The Rolling Stones. And after having had a taste of commercial exposure following the runaway success of 2012’s Arrow, Erika Wennerstrom and the other members of the Cincinnati-bred band opt to eschew the trappings of their recent glory in favor of furthering their artistic merit on the band’s excellent fifth LP. Recorded at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, Texas, with Grammy-winning producer John Congleton, Restless Ones finds the Bastards processing their hard-charging blooze-rock through a host of newly tapped influences. Opening number “Wind Up Bird” is augmented by the atmospheric wizardry of Robert Plant/Portishead/Massive Attack keyboardist John Baggott. Elsewhere, tracks like “Hi-Line” and “Pocket Full of Thirst” offer a country-rock element that’s equal parts Fleetwood Mac and Dream Syndicate. Meanwhile, closing cut “Tristessa” shares not only its title with Gish-era Smashing Pumpkins, but its dream-drone sonic textures as well. These Bastards aren’t so heartless after all.