At The Drive In - in•ter a•li•a (Rise Records) 2017
7
At the Drive In’s first release in 15 years, in•ter a•li•a joins just enough of the old with the new for 11 fiery tracks. In the decade and a half that has elapsed since the release of what many consider the bands most distinguished effort, 2000’s Relationship of Command, the group has kept exceptionally busy.
With almost too many projects to count forming and dissolving over the years, it was hard to imagine the five members, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Tony Hijjar, Paul Hinojos, Omar Rodríguez-López and Jim Ward would ever play together again. 2012 saw a brief reunion that brought in mixed reviews for the band, and unfortunately Ward has since decided not to partake in the latest reunion. The remaining four members have since shifted back into their signature manic flare for post-hardcore. in•ter a•li•a brings some new experimentation more reminiscent of Bixler-Zavala and Rodríguez-López’s The Mars Volta, while providing just enough nostalgia to keep old fans satisfied.