From the final strains of original No Wave through college rock, alt rock, noise, New Weird America, the early aughts “rock revival” and into today’s indie rock, Sonic Youth have continually loomed large, never faltering in their richly deserved position as one of the world’s pre-eminent experimental guitar bands. After 28 years and 16 studio albums — not to mention countless side projects — they seem so acutely aware of their sound that they could likely pen passable songs in their sleep. Fortunately, unlike many of their peers, SY have never been content to simply coast.

The Eternal, the band’s first album out from under the shadow of major label Geffen, follows in the approach of their previous release, Rather Ripped (and Sister before that), balancing clean production, shorter songs and accessibility with screeching feedback, oddball tunings and unpredictable left turns. For every blues-based riff or classic rock-ism (see: the opening of “Anti-Orgasm”), SY toss in a Krautrock-informed psychedelic slow burner (“Antenna”), a jokey post-riot grrrl rave-up with Kim Gordon singing “What’s it like to be a girl in a band?” (“Sacred Trickster”) or nine minutes of whispery, Daydream Nation-style sprawl (closer “Massage the History”).

SY’s energy levels haven’t dropped off either, with “Thunderclap for Bobby Pyn,” the Lee Ranaldo-led “What We Know” and standout “Malibu Gas Station,” all showcasing some furious shredding from the band’s axe men and woman. Longtime live member Mark Ibold (of Pavement fame) also makes his recorded debut on The Eternal, and while he doesn’t affect the band’s esthetic as drastically as previous fifth member Jim O’Rourke did on Murray Street, the songs here do seem anchored rhythmically by Ibold’s rock-solid playing. Another fresh sound in the mix is the back-and-forth gang vocals of Gordon and Thurston Moore, also heard on “Anti-Orgasm,” making the song another fun standout.

In today’s musical marketplace, where any obscure artist or album can be sampled at the push of a button, Sonic Youth seem to have given up the ghost in terms of challenging listeners. These days, every new release from the seminal band mostly feels like a warm, welcome hug from your coolest aunt or uncle.