ALBUM REVIEW: The Interrupters – In The Wild (Hellcat Records)
Just in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last decade, The Interrupters are a four-piece band from Los Angeles who are at the forefront of a new wave of ska-punk bands.
Championed by no less an icon than Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, they’ve carved out quite a reputation for themselves as a superb live band – and they’re not too shabby on record either.
In The Wild is their fourth studio album after their self-titled 2014 debut, Say It Out Loud (2016) and 2018’s tour de force, Fight The Good Fight.
They also have a live album to their name, Live In Tokyo! (reviewed HERE), which takes the best of their three previous releases.
The shining star at the centre of all they do is frontwoman Aimee, whose bubbly persona and infectious energy makes every show they play a celebration.
Flanked by her husband Kevin Bivona (guitar) and his twin brothers Justin (bass) and Jesse (drums), they take their cues from the UK’s late ’70s 2 Tone scene as much as the early ’90s Californian punk scene.
Turbulent past
It turns out that music has been something of a release for Aimee, as many of the lyrical themes on In The Wild comes from her turbulent past.
Exultant opener Anything Was Better references her troubled time in foster care as a youngster, while Jailbird addresses her candid feelings on her mental health issues, and Let ‘Em Go is about controlling relationships.
The skankingly-good As We Live features guest vox from the aforementioned Mr Armstrong and ska icon Rhoda Dakar from The Bodysnatchers, while upbeat, energetic lead single Raised By Wolves showcases everything that’s enjoyable about The Interrupters.
In The Mirror sounds made for mainstream radio play, while Kiss The Ground, set to a more relaxed reggae beat, slows things down and proves they aren’t one-trick ponies.
There’s a more traditional ska sound on Burdens, featuring Greg Lee and Alex Desert of Californian band Hepcat, while London reggae outfit The Skints guest on Love Never Dies, and there’s another fast-paced danceable anthem in the shape of The Hard Way.
Rock ‘n’ roller
My Heart leads us down a traditional rock ‘n’ roll path, and sounds like it could have been written for the soundtrack of a Hollywood rom-com set in the ’50s or ’60s.
All in all, this is another fine album from one of the fastest-rising stars of the alternative music scene. Catch them live if you can, they’re even better in the flesh. 8/10.
