“I’m in love, I’m in love, I’m in love,” singer-guitarist Russell Marsden exults on Band of Skulls’ fifth album, Love Is All You Love, before he drops a telling punch line: “That’s my trouble.” Marsden and bassist Emma Richardson take on mighty themes of love and war, although the musical impact varies widely on the new record. Such straightforward, riff-twisting hard-rock tracks as “Carnivorous” and “Not the Kind of Nothing I Know” rest uneasily alongside poppy and less-compelling numbers like “Cool Your Battles,” the glitzy dance number “Gold” and the electronica-laced “Thanks a Lot.” The musical experimentation does yield some occasional rewards on low-key songs like “Sound of You.” Band of Skulls are billed at the Mayan with Demob Happy.

The Mayan, 1038 S. Hill St., downtown L.A.; Sun., Oct. 6, 7 p.m.; $33. (213) 746-4674, www.clubmayan.com.

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