Los Angeles’ The Interrupters announce their first new record in four years, ‘Battle Scars,’ out January 29th and share a video for single ‘Back From The Dead’. The ska-punk number follows the band performing in a hospital at the intersection of death and rebirth.
“‘Back From the Dead’ is a reawakening,” Aimee explains. “I had a near-death experience, and now when I look back on it, I realize that the version of me that died is truly gone. But that’s a good thing and something I celebrate. This is my letter to alcohol, the worst friend I ever had: you tried to kill me, you tried to hold me down, but I’m back from the dead.”
For their fifth full-length The Interrupters reunited with longtime collaborators Tim Armstrong (Rancid, Operation Ivy) Brett Gurewitz (Bad Religion), Jesse Michaels (Operation Ivy) and Travis Barker (blink-182, Transplants). Produced by Kevin Bivona and Armstrong and recorded on analog tape, the band enlisted Michaels to co-write two tracks and provide a guest vocal on ‘Strangers’, as well as their old friend Barker to co-produce and lend his legendary drumming skills to the songs ‘Wild Heart’, ‘Unbreakable’, and ‘Warrior Spirit’.
The result is an album that sees the band integrate elements of new wave, post-punk and synth-pop into their signature sound. From the new wave-inspired call-to-arms shared in early October, ‘Warrior Spirit’, to the guitar-driven groove of ‘Unbreakable’ and the instantly memorable melody of ‘Legacy’, ‘Battle Scars’ is full of anthemic choruses and sonic power.
At the heart of the record is Aimee’s candid songwriting and willingness to reckon with her own battle scars. “On this album, I’m speaking my truth, and some of it’s deeply personal,” she shares. The album unfolds as a soundtrack of resilience, with the raw unbridled confession of ‘Wild Heart’, the ska-punk-inspired ‘Harboring Vengeance’ tracing her battle to forgive someone who deeply hurt her, and ‘Stained Glass Window’, a bittersweet yet empowered mending of wounds that’s been informed by her own struggles with mental health.
Through its sequencing, ‘Battle Scars’ is a musical journey, opening with ‘Warrior Spirit’ and ending with ‘Legacy’. “We start as warriors, and we end with the legacy, hopefully, leaving the world a little better than we found it,” Aimee explains. Her experiences may be singular, but the emotions and adventurous essence of ‘Battle Scars’ is universal.
Formed in Los Angeles in 2011, The Interrupters – Aimee Interrupter alongside brothers Kevin, Justin, and Jesse Bivona – have emerged as one of the most influential bands merging modern punk, ska, and alternative. They broke into the mainstream with their 2018 anthem ‘She’s Kerosene’ from ‘Fight The Good Fight’, which topped the radio charts in the U.S. and Canada. 2022’s ‘In The Wild’ followed, a deeply personal album that saw the group seamlessly blending breathless punk rock, doo-wop, gospel, and dancehall. Through acclaimed releases, relentless touring, and a reputation for explosive live performances, The Interrupters have built a devoted global following while carrying the torch for a new generation of fans through uplifting anthems rooted in resilience and strength.
The band will return to the UK and Europe in May 2027 for a series of headline shows and festival appearances. See below for the full list of dates.
‘Battle Scars’ tracklist:
01. Warrior Spirit
02. Scorpion
03. Wild Heart (feat. Travis Barker)
04. Vampire
05. Stained Glass Window
06. Unbreakable
07. Harboring Vengeance
08. Back From The Dead
09. One More Trip (feat. Tim Armstrong & Vic Ruggiero)
10. Stranger (feat. Jesse Michaels)
11. Legacy
2027 Upcoming tour dates:
May 17th – Sala Riviera – Madrid, ES
May 18th – LAV Lisboa Ao Vivo – Lisboa, PT
May 20th – Sala Pelicano – A Coruna, ES
May 21st – BEC – Bilbao, ES
May 22nd – Poble Espanyol – Barcelona, ES
May 26th – Barrowlands – Glasgow, UK
May 28th – Bearded Theory Festival – Derbyshire, UK
May 29th – Slam Dunk Festival (North) – Leeds, UK
May 30th – Slam Dunk Festival (South) – Hatfield, UK
June 1st – Roundhouse – London, UK
June 3rd – Ancienne Belgique (AB) – Brussels, BE
June 4th – Den Atelier – Luxembourg
June 5th – Tonhalle – Munich, DE
June 7th – Kino Šiška – Ljubljana, SI
June 10th – 12th – Greenfield Festival – Interlaken, CH
June 11th – Slam Dunk Festival – Milan, IT
June 12th – Nova Rock – Nickelsdorf, AT
June 14th – Akvárium Klub – Budapest, HU
June 16th – La Cigale – Paris, FR
June 18th – 20th – Southside Festival – Neuhausen Ob Eck, DE
June 18th – 20th – Hurricane Festival – Scheeßel, DE
June 21st – Vega – Copenhagen, DK
June 24th – 26th – Jera On Air – Ysselsteyn, NL
June 25th – Vainstream – Munster, DE
June 26th – Impericon – Leipzig, DE
June 25th – Mighty Sounds – Tabor 4, CZ