Two years ago, Primal Scream’s masterpiece, XTRMNTR, spotlighted the band as the greatest outfit on the planet, and due to the extremist political stance the record made them into outspoken activists. Leader Bobby Gillespie was comfortably living out his fantasy as the leftist, untouchable frontman.

But now, Primal Scream exists as the band most affected by the Sept. 11 attacks. The live debut of a new song called “Bomb the Pentagon” a few months prior to that fateful day probably didn’t help matters either. Primal Scream was a deer caught in the most blinding of headlights.

We knew Primal Scream had it in them to react, but never in such a civil manner. Call their approach to Evil Heat a matter of respect, or call it wisdom to avoid every gun-toting super-nationalist looking to blast away any difference of opinion. But we can certainly consider their heavy-on-the-influences record about rock ‘n’ roll another successful chapter in the legacy of the most thrilling band since the Stones.

For the most part, the political rage has died down, as evidenced by the alteration of “Bomb the Pentagon,” which is reincarnated here as “Rise.” Other tracks point to this celebration of rock, like “City,” in which Gillespie pleads, “Ooh baby, do it again.”

The Krautrock leanings of “Deep Hit of the Morning Sun” and the overtly Eno “A Scanner Darkly” make Evil Heat unpredictable. And for further shock value, Robert Plant turns up for blazing harmonica on “The Lord Is My Shotgun,” while Kate Moss does stellar background work on Lee Hazlewood’s “Some Velvet Morning.” Elsewhere, the Scream return to rock ‘n’ roll tendencies, turning the record back into one glowing homage to Dylan, Iggy and all who have come before them.

And perhaps this simple idea of balls-out rock ‘n’ roll is all the Scream was thinking this time around. For a band that’s covered every musical style over an 11-year period, maybe it’s just time to have fun.

At the very least, Evil Heat is something that will get us on our feet, and, as Gillespie shouts on “Miss Lucifer,” “shake it baby.”

Last time they proved they were the greatest, and now they’ve come off as the bravest. And like all of us living in a post-Sept. 11 world, life has gone on for the Primal Scream. Rest assured, further brilliance awaits them.