After spending a decade in the music industry, and crafting six albums that have cemented the band as a powerful indie-rock duo, Canadian twins Tegan and Sara decided to take the plunge into the world of pop by recruiting producer Greg Kurstin (Ke$ha; Katy Perry). Replacing guitars with synth-pads, simple refrains with stadium-filling anthems, Tegan and Sara create a new sound that aggressively fuses conventional pop with an indie rock edge. Enter Heartthrob.

This genre departure is a natural evolution for Tegan and Sara, who started exploring new areas last year through collaborations with Morgan Page and Tiesto. Now 32 years old, their maturity is delivered through reflections on passion. For the first time, Tegan and Sara explore erotic themes with “Closer,” an intense number about sex and all its tribulations. Look to “I Was a Fool” for the classic Tegan and Sara love ballad, albeit updated with a pop ambience.

For every moment spent reflecting on regret, there is an equal and opposite moment spent thriving in an electrical, euphoric universe, making Heartthrob Tegan and Sara’s most polished and balanced record. This new sound is undoubtedly more commercial, but it’s also deeper, catchier, and overall better than anything Tegan and Sara have accomplished before. For those new to the band, there has never been a better opportunity to give the duo a chance. This departure for Tegan and Sara will attract even those who remotely enjoy pop—whether they’d like to admit it or not.