Get ready for some sonic sparks! Interpol are firing on all cylinders as they bring in drummer extraordinaire Matt Barrick to help them power through their current live shows. The brainchild of regular drummer Sam Fogarino's recuperation from surgery, this temporary team-up has been a game-changer, if the electrifying performances at Madrid's Mad Cool Festival and Sala But club are anything to go by.
Those in the know were treated to a thrilling taster of Interpol's signature sound, as the band tore through fan favourites like 'NYC' and 'Obstacle 1', leaving no doubt that they're still one of the most thrilling live acts around. The secret show at Sala But, held under the guise of their new single 'Iron City', was a masterclass in restraint – just one minor tweak to the setlist saw them swap out 'Roland' for 'The Rover', but otherwise it was business as usual.
And speaking of 'This Mirror Weighs A Ton', Interpol's ninth studio album, due August 28 via Partisan Records, is shaping up to be a real game-changer. With production masterminds Andrew Wyatt and Dave Fridmann at the helm, expect more of the atmospheric soundscapes that have come to define their sound – plus a few unexpected twists courtesy of strings, woodwinds, layered vocals, acoustic guitar, and experimental sound design.
Frontman Paul Banks has been talking about their new single 'Iron City', which he describes as a dialogue between human narrator and future artificial intelligence. But don't worry, folks – Interpol are still very much the masters of their own destiny when it comes to pushing creative boundaries and innovating in the studio.
UK fans won't be short-changed this summer and autumn either – with slots at All Points East x Outbreak on August 23 alongside Deftones, IDLES, and Amyl & The Sniffers, plus a co-headline arena tour with Bloc Party that includes two nights at London's Olympia on December 4 and 5.
Source: NME