It was only a matter of time before Ska Punk came crashing back onto our airwaves and who better to be championing the revival than The Interrupters with their. fourth eagerly-awaited album “In The Wild”. Four years after “Fight The Good Fight” and the success of ‘She’s Kerosene’ the LA band are keeping Ska alive by delivering their most ambitious and personal album to date, with each track a deep delve into the troubled past of frontwoman Aimee Interrupter.
Known to have Cali Punk legend Tim Armstrong at the helm, producing their previous three albums. This time they’ve taken things back to basics having recorded the album almost entirely in their home studio during lockdown with guitarist Kevin Bivona on production. A move that made him the self-proclaimed “accountable one”. Change is good – ‘In the Wild’ is an absolute triumph.
‘Anything Was Better’ is an anthemic opener, with big hooks and powerful vocals from Aimee who opens up about her turbulent youth. ‘As We Live’ featuring Tim Armstrong (Rancid, Operation Ivy) and Two-Tone veteran Rhoda Dakar (The Bodysnatchers) is an energetic dub and dancehall track that gives us 3 generations of Ska sharing the mic. A collaboration that will get even the most stubborn of Ska skeptics skanking. ‘In The Mirror’ showcases the band at their best. A soul-lifting track that takes you back to the glory days of No Doubt’s ‘Tragic Kingdom’.
‘Jailbird’ sees Aimee exorcise her personal demons, candidly opening up on her battles with anxiety, PTSD and trichotillomania. ‘Let ‘Em Go’, is a total knee-raiser with an addictive book that sees Aimee give two fingers to her past toxic relationships, “if they try to take control let ’em go”. Dark topics aside, it’s a buoyant track that will inspire you to dance it out, whatever struggle comes your way.
Elsewhere we have ‘My Heart’ a doo-wop-inspired track, written about Aimee’s sadly departed pet dog Daisy, Joyous reggae meets gospel on ‘Burdens’ and album closer ‘Alien’ is a stripped-back, piano number that highlights Aimee’s songwriting and vocal ability once more as she takes us on one final journey through her troublesome youth.
In the Wild hits all the right notes, a tale of liberation from start to finish. 14 tracks of peace, love, strength and unity. For all the “outsiders” out there, this one’s for you
In The Wild, dropped on Friday, Aug. 5th via Hellcat/Epitaph Records
Review: Sheree Jackson
Listen to In The Wild HERE
In The Wild Tracklisting:
The band is currently on tour and tickets can be purchased – HERE.
TOUR DATES:
Aug. 7th – Tilburg, Netherlands – Poppodium 013*
Aug. 8th – Lokeren, Belgium – Lokerse Feesten*
Aug. 9th – Cologne, Germany – Live Music Hall*
Aug. 11th – Tolmin, Slovenia – PUNK ROCK HOLIDAY 2022*
Aug. 12th – Igea Marina, Italy – Bay Fest 2022*
Aug. 13th – Linz, Austria – Tabakfabrik Linz*
Aug. 16th – Berlin, Germany – Huxleys Neue Welt*
Aug. 17th – Hamburg, Germany – Markthalle*
Aug. 20th – Tiverton, United Kingdom – Beautiful Days Festival 2022*
Aug. 21st – Bristol, United Kingdom – Marble Factory*
Aug. 23rd – Nottingham, United Kingdom – Rock City*
Aug. 24th – Leeds, United Kingdom – O2 Academy Leeds*
Aug. 29th – Manchester, United Kingdom – Manchester Academy*
Aug. 31st – Glasgow, United Kingdom – Barrowland Ballroom*
Sept. 2nd – Birmingham, United Kingdom – O2 Institute*
Sept. 3rd – London, United Kingdom – O2 Academy Brixton*
U.S. TOUR DATES:
Sept. 9th – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom Outdoors
Sept. 10th – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater
Sept. 11th – Salt Lake City, UT – Complex Outdoors – The Lot
Sept. 13th – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater
Sept. 14th – Boise, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
Sept. 16th – Eugene, OR – Cuthbert Amphitheater
Sept. 17th – Seattle, WA – WaMu Theater
Sept. 18th – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Sept. 20th – Sacramento, CA – Heart Health Park
Sept. 21st – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Sept. 23rd – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union
Sept. 24th – Irvine, CA – Five Point Amphitheatre
Sept. 25th – Las Vegas, CA – Mandalay Bay Beach Stage
Oct. 9th – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock*
*The Interrupters will appear in the UK and various festivals separate from the Flogging Molly co-headline tour.