On Friday May 5th At The Drive in made a return to music more than a decade after Relationship of Command was released.
This album doesn’t ease you in, it demands to be heard. With opener Theres No Wolf Like the Present you’re instantly transported back to the 90’s/00’s. Its a beautifully familiar sound and even in its nostalgia it still has a fresh energy. The effortless raw, harshness of the guitar and vocals is exactly what you want from At The Drive In. It’s refreshing to see a band not straying too far from the sound you love, considering the offerings from some bands as of late. And I can fully get behind them for returning to music seventeen years later, that being said, the album seems to offer just enough.
The fast paced hard hitting vocals continue throughout. Theres less synths and I feel with them going back to basics its essentially, harsh vocals, incredible guitar work, bass, drums and a few samples thrown in, not overly dubbed and I don’t hate it. I’ve seen this called a continuation of Relationship of Command and it in no way is. The energy is way more dispersed throughout these tracks, you’re taken on a journey. My favourite track is Pendulum in a Peasant Dress. That chorus… The hardcore punk elements are there and so are the samples, its enough for me in terms of what I was hoping for upon hearing they were back. For some At The Drive In fans I fear this may disappoint. But you have to remember they haven’t been a band for 17 years. And even with saying that most At The Drive In fans will enjoy this.
I think with this album its not a fresh band, its a bunch of 40 year olds who sound pretty damn good for their age, with an immense catalogue of projects behind them, and this is another notch on that post. For me this album is At The Drive In, its a raw and I enjoy it. Considering this album is them coming together after 17 years and in reality you can’t expect a release with the same fire and passion that created their previous albums. That being said they’ve stoked the embers.
in•ter a•li•a available now! Order the album: https://riserecords.lnk.to/ATDI
