Interpol Unveil Enigmatic New Album 'This Mirror Weighs a Ton' and Announce Extensive Tour

Indie rock architects Interpol are poised to shatter expectations with their upcoming eighth studio album, This Mirror Weighs a Ton, set for release on August 28. The band has already offered a compelling glimpse into their new sonic world, unveiling the enigmatic title track and the more rhythmically charged "See Out Loud."

The album's namesake, "This Mirror Weighs a Ton," opens with a serene, almost ethereal soundscape. Spongy guitars and angelic backing vocals provide a delicate counterpoint to Paul Banks' staccato delivery as he sings, "This mirror weighs a ton, but at least we act sudden." This phrase, born from Banks' improvisational vocal sessions, is a testament to the band's refined automatic writing process and, as they suggest, a conceptual cornerstone for the entire record.

"See Out Loud" follows, featuring similarly opaque lyricism but a notably heavier beat and a more pronounced guitar presence. It’s a track that instantly feels quintessential Interpol, yet hints at the subtle evolutions within their signature sound.

For the first time in over a decade, Interpol returned to their home turf of Manhattan to record, collaborating with acclaimed producer Andrew Wyatt (known for his work with Rosalía and Charli XCX) at his studio. This homecoming appears to have inspired a richer, more expansive sound. The band has revealed they've augmented their classic instrumentation with strings, woodwinds, acoustic guitar, and more intricate vocal harmonies. A notable highlight is the return of guitarist Daniel Kessler's vocal contributions on "See Out Loud," a rare occurrence since Turn on the Bright Lights' "PDA."

Kessler vividly recalls the genesis of the title track: "I was right next to Andrew when he started doing these incredible things with the sound design, and it was just so exciting. I remember thinking, I don’t have context for what kind of music this is — these big crashes happening before Paul even had a vocal. Logic would have said maybe this is an instrumental. Then Paul just got up, went into the back room and started singing those melodies — and suddenly it was clearly not going to be."

Wyatt echoes this sentiment, emphasizing a focus on clarity and spatial depth. "I wondered what it would be like to keep the parts perfectly legible, because everyone in that band writes such great parts. And to add some different spatial dimensions to it," he explained. "It was something almost a little bit more like chamber music — the musical ideas bear scrutiny without needing the sonic treatment of it to carry all the weight. It was also nice to add a trick or two I picked up over a couple decades of making pop records." This approach promises an album where every detail can be savored.

Fans won't have to wait long to experience the new material live, as Interpol has announced an extensive run of North American tour dates this summer and fall. They'll be joined by a diverse array of supporting acts, including Youth Lagoon, Loathe, Julie, Diiv, and French Police, and will also appear as a supporting act for Sombr on select dates. Full ticketing details are available on Interpol’s website.

Here’s a look at the full tracklist for This Mirror Weighs a Ton:

1. “This Mirror Weighs a Ton”
2. “See Out Loud”
3. “Iron City”
4. “Wounded Soldier”
5. “Wings on Fire”
6. “Ever the Actor”
7. “So Rides the Reindeer”
8. “Darling Thoughts”
9. “Wake Up”
10. “Enemy”
11. “Bird and the Serpent”
12. “Sudden”

Catch Interpol live on one of their upcoming North American dates:

• July 31 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom (support from Youth Lagoon)
• Aug. 2 – Jackson Hole, WY @ Snow King Mountain (support from Youth Lagoon)
• Aug. 3 – Boise, ID @ Revolution Concert House (support from Youth Lagoon)
• Aug. 4 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden (support from Youth Lagoon)
• Aug. 6 – Portland, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield (support from Loathe)
• Aug. 8 – Tacoma, WA @ Dune Peninsula (support from Loathe)
• Aug. 11 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield (support from Julie)
• Aug. 14 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl (support from Julie)
• Aug. 15 – San Diego, CA @ The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park (support from Julie)
• Aug. 16 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas (support from Julie)
• Sept. 26 – Brooklyn, NY @ CBGB Festival
• Sept. 29 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena (supporting Sombr)
• Oct. 2 – Toronto, ON @ The Bowl at Sobeys Stadium (support from Diiv)
• Oct. 3 – Montreal, QC @ L’Olympia (support from Diiv)
• Oct. 4 – Boston, MA @ Roadrunner (support from Diiv)
• Oct. 6 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE (support from Diiv)
• Oct. 7 – Cleveland, OH @ The Agora (support from Diiv)
• Oct. 9 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Jack White Theatre (support from Diiv)
• Oct. 10 – Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live! Outdoors (support from Diiv)
• Oct. 11 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed Fairgrounds (support from Diiv)
• Oct. 13 – St. Louis, MO @ The Factory (support from Diiv)
• Oct. 15 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern (support from Diiv)
• Oct. 16 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern (support from Diiv)
• Oct. 17 – Nashville, TN @ The Pinnacle (support from Diiv and French Police)

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