Marnie Stern can shred. The 37-year-old guitarist plays harder and faster than any of her peers, and her yelpy voice can cut through anything. Her first record, 2007’s In Advance of the Broken Arm was a game changer, creating the guitar equivalent to Death Grips drummer Zach Hill’s spastic percussion. Stern just released her fourth record, the delightfully titled The Chronicles of Marnia this past March, on which she has shuffled things a bit. Hill, a constant on her records, is gone; in his place, Oneida drummer Kid Millions lays the backbone for Stern’s freak-outs and intricate guitar work. “Nothing is Easy,” in particular, highlights the two musicians’ collaboration. The song begins with interlocking guitar plucking, but then smooths out, becoming one of Stern’s most enjoyable and accessible tracks.

Marnie Stern plays with Barren Girls Thursday at the Black Cat. Tickets $13.