When L7's ovaries-out, distortion-driven debut appeared in 1988, the idea of women kicking out the jams was a serious aberration. Not since the Runaways or Patti Smith had women dared make so much noise. On Tuesday L7 returns with its fifth record, "The Beauty Process: Triple Platinum," sidestepping five years of girl-grunge propaganda and delivering an album of deliriously no-fuss rock 'n' roll.

Founding members Suzi Gardner and Donita Sparks share vocal and guitar credits throughout "The Beauty Process." Their combined influence anchors L7's sound in rip-rock snarl in "Drama" and driven disquiet in "Bad Things." Belly's Gail Greenwood has replaced bassist Jennifer Finch, and her thundering touch fits in so well it's hard to imagine the woman ever played on lightweight ditties like "Feed the Tree."

Life's grand excess, in particular the substance abuse which has turned the music industry on its ear, fuels L7's latest. "The Beauty Process" is drenched in liquor from end to end, and makes no apologies about it. "Been dry long enough/My brain and body need some abuse," they sing in the blues-fuzz bop "Off The Wagon." "Moonshine" echoes that sentiment -- and sound -- making room for a romantic double-entendre: "Take a walk with me in the moonshine."

L7 also takes a stab at politics in "The Masses are Asses," which details the pointlessness of mixing one's polemics in one's songwriting. In other moments, the band digs into self-obsessed whimpering in "I Need" and "Must Have More," but it's unclear whether these ladies are celerating selfishness or condemning a generation of witless whiners.

"The Beauty Process" has its ugly side. A few tunes here are little more than filler, and after a while even their best songs begin to sound alike. Still, L7 deserves credit for carrying the rock torch this far -- and for continuing to shove those flames in the faces of their critics.

-- Beth Winegarner

This article was originally publushed in the San Francisco Chronicle.