Interpol has created some of the best post-punk songs of the last 25 years, but part of the band's issue recently is that they appear to have dipped in form. Mostly gone was the angst precision of "Slow Hands." Some longtime fans felt the band needed to expand its sound or get back to basics.
Will that happen on the new album, which the group recently announced? This Mirror Weighs a Ton will be released via Partisan on August 28. As part of the announcement, Interpol dropped two new singles, "See Out Loud," which features guitarist Daniel Kessler on lead vocals, and the more atmospheric title track.
Kessler last had lead vocals on the brilliant single, "PDA," from the band's debut album from 2002, Turn on the Bright Lights. The ironic drawback to "See Out Loud" potentially being good is that it would imply the band had missed loads of opportunities for the last quarter-century by not having Kessler take lead vocals even more.
Interpol announce new album details and drop two new singles
So is the new song good? Well, yes.
A slow-burn start of guitar gives way to vocals and a classic Interpol drum kick about 15 seconds in. Just as with the band's best songs, the tune propels forward as if just on the verge of careening completely out of control. But when the group is in top form, it is the control chaos they can inhabit that separates them from other NYC bands, such as the Strokes.
Kessler will never be mistaken for a crooner, but that wouldn't fit with Interpol anyway. He sounds more like a snarling Michael Stipe, and in the greatest possible way. He might be a bit more yearning on "See Out Loud" compared to "PDA," but that's the track's only slight negative. Otherwise, it's a return to form that fans have wanted for years.
"This Mirror Weighs a Ton" is far more ethereal and quite the opposite of "See Out Loud." The two tracks do not give a true indication of how good or bad the entire album might be once it's released. Basically, if you want a gym song, play "See Out Loud." If you want a late-evening mood, put on "This Mirror Weighs a Ton."
This Mirror Weighs a Ton was produced by Andrew Wyatt, though, and that's a very good sign. Wyatt has seemingly been a bit of everywhere recently, including the Barbie score and working with Liam Gallagher. His involvement with Interpol indicates greatness may follow.
Interpol's This Mirror Weighs a Ton tacklist:
- 01 "This Mirror Weighs a Ton"
- 02 "See Out Loud"
- 03 "Iron City"
- 04 "Wounded Soldier"
- 05 "Wings On Fire"
- 06 "Ever the Actor"
- 07 "So Rides the Reindeer"
- 08 "Darling Thoughts"
- 09 "Wake Up"
- 10 "Enemy"
- 11 "Bird and the Serpent"
- 12 "Sudden"
Interpol 2026 tour dates:
- 07-31 Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
- 08-02 Jackson Hole, WY – Snow King Mountain
- 08-03 Boise, ID – Revolution Concert House
- 08-04 Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden
- 08-06 Portland, OR – McMenamins Edgefield
- 08-08 Tacoma, WA – Dune Peninsula
- 08-11 San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
- 08-14 Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
- 08-15 San Diego, CA – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
- 08-16 Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
- 09-26 Brooklyn, NY – CBGB Festival
- 09-29 Vancouver, British Columbia – Rogers Arena
- 10-02 Toronto, Ontario – The Bowl at Sobeys Stadium
- 10-03 Montreal, Quebec – L’Olympia
- 10-04 Boston, MA – Roadrunner
- 10-06 Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
- 10-07 Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
- 10-09 Detroit, MI – Masonic Jack White Theatre
- 10-10 Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live! Outdoors
- 10-11 Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed Fairgrounds
- 10-13 St. Louis, MO – The Factory
- 10-16 Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
- 10-17 Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle
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