On their fifth album, San Francisco streetpunk heroes Swingin’ Utters join forces with one of underground rock’s most notorious freaks: producer Blag Dahlia, otherwise known as the creative mastermind behind eternal punk miscreants Dwarves. The result recaptures the aggressive vibe of the band’s early work without sacrificing the lyrical heft and keen ear for acoustic instrumentation they’ve developed in recent years.

The hyperactive " Glad " is both a heartfelt tribute to a departed friend and a sharp jab at modern-rock commercialism, with uplifting vocal harmonies that take a surprising turn for the psychedelic. " Don’t Ask Why " and " If You Want Me To " also cast cold glances at rock sellouts, but the group spend most of their time dealing with their own demons. " Debauchery must be for someone else, " scowls frontman Johnny Bonnel on the thrashy " Leaves of Fate, " his scarred voice evoking Shane MacGowan more than ever. Guitarist/songwriter Darius Koski takes things down a notch with his melancholy vocal turn on " Shadows and Lies, " the bleak waltz that closes the album. Like their old buddies Dropkick Murphys, the Utters keep getting better with age.

(Swingin’ Utters perform next Thursday, April 3, at Axis. Call 617-262-2437.)