Although Metric’s buoyant indie-rock songs have always been deeply palatable on a mainstream level, the band’s last album, 2012’s Synthetica, felt notably accessible. Maybe the contemporary rock scene has finally evolved to mirror their sensibility or maybe Metric has found hook-laden synth pop as the best means of expression at this point in their career. Either way, Pagans In Vegas, which feels like a direct continuation of Synthetica, is the sort of intelligent pop you wish the radio would always play. The album’s single “The Shade” is undeniable, surging with jaunty beats and a rollicking chorus that sees frontwoman Emily Haines gleefully howling, “I want it all.” The rest of the album follows suit, although Metric doesn’t rely on each track to be an upbeat hit. “Blind Valentine” marries ‘80s synth with acoustic guitar to create a surging ballad while “Fortunes” is a pulsing indie number that feels more like a whisper than a roar. The highlight comes first though: “Lie Lie Lie” is ferocious and compelling, the sort of grandiose, dramatic song that Metric is best at.