Marauder
by Interpol
  • Record Label: Matador
  • Release Date: Aug 24, 2018
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 91 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 72 out of 91
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 91
  3. Negative: 9 out of 91
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  1. itsjust
    Aug 24, 2018
    10
    Interpol made an album for themselves. It’s what they’ve always done and it’s why they’ve got such a distinct sound. This album came off initially as muddled, rushed out, and congested. I felt as if the band just came into the studio and started playing with no direction or purpose. I was willing to give this a 6/10 from there on out. But then Flight of Fancy started to unveil in my mind.Interpol made an album for themselves. It’s what they’ve always done and it’s why they’ve got such a distinct sound. This album came off initially as muddled, rushed out, and congested. I felt as if the band just came into the studio and started playing with no direction or purpose. I was willing to give this a 6/10 from there on out. But then Flight of Fancy started to unveil in my mind. The outro constantly built upon itself in a beautiful, aggressive fashion. I loved it. It was the first time I got goosebumps from this album. I went back and listened and I got that feeling for other songs and the album got better. I listened again and it got better as well. And then it got better. And again. And again.

    What we have here is something completely new. While El Pintor was a rerun to safe form, carrying dark tones and clear-cut production, we now have an album that’s comfortable in its own disarray. It shares a lot of qualities as self titled, but without the dysfunction and depression (and I love self titled). This album sounds like it acknowledges the confusion, complications, and darkness of everyday life and culture but makes a BANGING album out of it. Every song starts out simple, but twists into an energetic or wallowing spark of pure passion. The band had fun making this. They took a lot of leaps and bounds over anything we’ve heard before. This isn’t boring or expected after a few listens. It’s diverse, fun, thought provoking, but overall a companion to confusion, mellodramatic thoughts those like me suffer from. The everyday burden of existence is eased and acknowledged by what Interpol made. It’s an album I know I can come back to if I’m feeling some way J can not explain, because it’ll either accompany those feelings and give me some semblance of understanding, or simply give me happiness hat some guys were able to make something so enjoyable, unique, and prosperous out of feelings that completely contradict those notions. I love you Interpol. This album **** rocks.    … Expand
  2. ParttimeRobot
    Sep 1, 2018
    10
    What a triumph. Interpol is oftentimes sneeringly called a band that desperately struggles to re-capture the greatness of the first album and that hasn´t had a real clue on how to accomplish that, After having to agree with that at least to the extent that none of the albums from Our Love To Admire to El Pintor have been on the same level as the first two, even though they still managed toWhat a triumph. Interpol is oftentimes sneeringly called a band that desperately struggles to re-capture the greatness of the first album and that hasn´t had a real clue on how to accomplish that, After having to agree with that at least to the extent that none of the albums from Our Love To Admire to El Pintor have been on the same level as the first two, even though they still managed to be very good, I was prepared to listen to El Pintor 2.0. However, instead of a "classic Interpol-album" I expected off of El Pintor, with sleek and clean production and roughly even-handed switches from slower to mid-tempo songs, I was blown away by Marauder. Marauder, instead of starting fast and straight-forward, builds an atmosphere of both palpable gloominess and a yet assured confidence that things will blow over and be just fine in the end. As if you´re leaving a dimly-lit bar at the break of dawn when the evening really had its ups and downs, but in the end, you´re happy you experienced the whole thing. More than any Interpol-album after TOTBL, even Antics, Marauder never lets go of this atmosphere and experiments with the moods within the confines of it, rather than trying to stray from its central tone. It doesn´t need to. Marauder is confident that its sound will capture the listener and take her or him on a ride for this one special evening it creates. In sticking with one idea, it succeeds in rising above its concept.

    Marauder is not just a very good Interpol-album as its predecessors already were; it´s finally a special one once again.    … Expand
  3. BroteinSupreme
    Aug 24, 2018
    8
    Rolling in with a creative and booming effort, Interpol's sixth album proves that the band hasn't lost their touch, and they have much more to offer. This is an album with no filler and no holds barred.

    That being said, Dave Fridmann's production leaves a lot to be desired. While the mix sounds absolutely terrible on stereo, and will require some normalization to avoid the peculiarities    Rolling in with a creative and booming effort, Interpol's sixth album proves that the band hasn't lost their touch, and they have much more to offer. This is an album with no filler and no holds barred.

    That being said, Dave Fridmann's production leaves a lot to be desired. While the mix sounds absolutely terrible on stereo, and will require some normalization to avoid the peculiarities (such as volume changes in between tracks), the collection of songs seem like they're more of live tracks, as even the early YouTube recordings of NYSMAW seem to capture the emotion of the song in a way that the album recording just doesn't seem to do.

    The mixing doesn't prevent Interpol from making several phenomenal songs. Surveillance is easily one of the best songs they've written, and It Probably Matters keeps up Interpol's track record of making kick-ass closers. The interludes don't really make too much sense here, they don't change the tone or set the mood, overall they're pretty insignificant, which is probably for the best. One of the songs that didn't make the cut was Real Life, a song that's been played extensively throughout Interpol's 2018 tour, which hints that there'll be another cut of bonus tracks like there was with El Pintor.

    This is no Turn on the Bright Lights, nor is it another Antics, if anything it's closer to a more-polished El Pintor, though the mixing wouldn't immediately show it. Regardless, it fits snug into Interpol's discography and is worth several repeat listens.

    Best Tracks: Surveillance, It Probably Matters, Flight of Fancy
    Worst Track: Complications    … Expand
  4. J1323
    Aug 25, 2018
    9
    Overall, this album totally took me by surprise as a successful attempt by Interpol to circle back to their wayyyyy older school leanings - this time without Carlos D's prominent bass presence - and still find a way to pull it off. I never thought it could be done but I've been proved wrong.

    A few observations : 1) Straight off the bat - Mixing and sound levels in this are pretty    Overall, this album totally took me by surprise as a successful attempt by Interpol to circle back to their wayyyyy older school leanings - this time without Carlos D's prominent bass presence - and still find a way to pull it off. I never thought it could be done but I've been proved wrong.

    A few observations :

    1) Straight off the bat - Mixing and sound levels in this are pretty much 180 from El Pintor , plus most stuff they've done since (and even including) 2004's Antics.

    Mixing isn't nearly as wet or reverby as El Pintor. To me it has a drier driving sound more akin to Turn on Ther Bright Lights, songs written BEFORE turn on the bright lights (song 7, precipitate, cut the rope). and to a lesser extent the Self Titled release. It's mixing to me on Marauder is really really OLD SCHOOL interpol.

    This isn't a good thing or a bad thing - just something that one should note when listening. Most prior people that knew interpol didn't give the self titled much time of day it seems. So if that's the case - then going down the album path since way back in 2004 (Antics - > Our Love to Admire - > El Pintor) this album will DEFINITELY be uncomfortably mixed to many people!!! But as I said, I feel like it's not because the mixing is bad, but rather because it's something a lot of listeners sonically aren't used to with Interpol - the band hasn't been down this path for a long long time mix-wise. And I give them a load of credit for going back to that + I think it works really well here. By the way, to anyone that hasn't yet, I urge you to listen to the 3 pre- turn on the bright light songs I mentioned above to give you an idea of when they used to do this type of mix (song 7, precipitate, cut the rope). There are others too, just look them up :)

    Importantly, the mix in Marauder also placed the orchestra synth WAY lower in volume - - to low levels not seen since Antics. This was a huge welcome addition to me personally.

    2) Unlike El Pintor, Paul's vocal melody and the instrumentation as a whole for the band seem to be less tied down to Daniel's riffs compared El Pintor. Rover seems like the main exception to this. I feel like with El Pintor, once Carlos left, they were more... desperate to search for a lead instrument to guide them and for the most part just told Daniel to make a riff to loop prominently in the mix to base an entire song on. For example My Desire, Rage, Breaker 1, Same Town among others. Daniel did a GREAT job I felt at this though - he seriously stepped up - and El Pintor was awesome as a result. This album though, the song writing on a band level sounds way more of a collectively cohesive effort to me. Songs like It Probably Doesn't Matter are one of a bunch of examples of this.

    --------
    HOW ARE THE SONGS :

    So with those two long points out of the way, I feel that the songwriting itself is just as good as El Pintor - though this songwriting comes off in a very different way based on the two major points I said above.

    I personally felt like the song Complications missed it's mark (for me) but everything else was spectacular. Sam really shines this album. Paul isn't burying his voice in 20 pounds of reverb anymore. The bass is more interestingly written in this one too compared to El Pintor (though it still leaves a lot to be desired compared to the Carlos days). Number 10 reminds me of a throw back to PDA's feel. Stay in Touch reminds me of a throwback to their pre- turn on the bright light - days (something I never thought Id ever hear again). Nysmaw sounds straight out of Antics. Surveillance sounds like it belonged on the Self Titled - but as the danciest song on it (something the self titled severly lacked) . It Probably Matters has them do an "Interpol Shuffle" and actually work - which is pretty crazy to me. A lot of the album is very dark-dancy-driving.

    So again, to conclude (as I initially said in this review) :
    Overall, this album totally took me by surprise as a successful attempt by Interpol to circle back to their wayyyyy older school leanings - this time without Carlos D's prominent bass presence - and still find a way to pull it off. I never thought it could be done but I've been proved wrong.    … Expand
  5. hididis
    Aug 29, 2018
    10
    thinking back at what feelings previous albums from Interpol created in me i was hoping this album will do the same. send me back to some moments back in time, have those nihilistic views but also a certain joy that was surrounded with a bit of loneliness. but this last album Marauder is more mature, just like me. after all these years, listening to their latest oeuvre I begin to realizethinking back at what feelings previous albums from Interpol created in me i was hoping this album will do the same. send me back to some moments back in time, have those nihilistic views but also a certain joy that was surrounded with a bit of loneliness. but this last album Marauder is more mature, just like me. after all these years, listening to their latest oeuvre I begin to realize that some things never change: the desire to be alone, the desire to bring certain feelings out of me is something that manifests in every atom in me. and having these songs to wash my atoms is something that only Marauder can do.… Expand
  6. RottenDaHam
    Aug 26, 2018
    9
    call me crazy but this is interpol's best album since TOTBL. it has such a new sound but with everything that makes interpol great in it.
  7. Cuauhtemoc
    Sep 1, 2018
    8
    – ¿A qué época te refieres cuando dices “antes”?

    – Qué más da. Antes es antes. Hiromi Kawakami Antes esperaba con ansiedad los discos nuevos, revisaba fechas de salida, buscaba en revistas información sobre que bandas estaban trabajando en el estudio. Me gustaba sentarme a imaginar cómo sonarían las nuevas canciones de mis grupos favoritos. El tiempo todo lo cambia, por    – ¿A qué época te refieres cuando dices “antes”?

    – Qué más da. Antes es antes.

    Hiromi Kawakami

    Antes esperaba con ansiedad los discos nuevos, revisaba fechas de salida, buscaba en revistas información sobre que bandas estaban trabajando en el estudio. Me gustaba sentarme a imaginar cómo sonarían las nuevas canciones de mis grupos favoritos.

    El tiempo todo lo cambia, por fortuna. Ahora con tanta tecnología consigo muchos más discos de los que puedo escuchar, muchísimos más de los que puedo procesar o incluso disfrutar.

    En los momentos que no son antes, me pongo a desear que no se acumulen los discos, que las bandas tengan paciencia, que no sean presas del impulso acelerado de la industria musical.

    Con evidente egoísmo espero que cada banda que me gusta se tome el tiempo para grabar, que no solo lo haga para satisfacer la necesidad de salir de gira y poder cobrar algo del dinero que ya no les deja la casi inexistente venta de discos.

    Pero no, siguen y siguen grabando, como si la cuestión creativa fuera algo tan sencillo de repetir, como si se tratara de un proceso industrializado de creación de canciones efímeras y olvidables.

    Parece que el mundo de los músicos no entiende que me he vuelto más viejo, no en el sentido negativo, sino en el sentido de que reconozco de manera más acertada sus trucos, que ya no me impresiona cualquier pasaje pegadizo de una canción mal grabada.

    Necesité seis párrafos para tratar de explicar por qué tenía casi diez años renegando de los discos nuevos de Interpol.

    “Turn on the Bright Lights” y “Antics” representaron dos discos completos y sorprendentes, ese sonido un tanto obscuro pero intenso que era conducido por la voz de Paul Banks representaron poder vivir esa emoción juvenil de descubrir canciones.

    Dos discos con piezas que tenían muchas apropiaciones de las bandas post punk que tanto me gustan, pero que a pesar de eso lograban tener algo nuevo, emocionante, algo que hacían de sus canciones himnos perfectos para recorrer la ciudad de noche, manejando a ningún lado.

    Después fueron tres discos de búsqueda, de mantener algunos lazos con su origen pero tratando de ganar nuevo sonidos, de incorporar algunas ideas, no siempre de manera correcta, pero siempre buscando.

    Sin embargo esa búsqueda dejó algunas buenas canciones y muchas más dudas, justo de ahí se alimentaba mi ansiedad por la salida de “Marauder”, no quería encontrarme de nuevo con un disco menor de un grupo que forma parte importante de la banda sonora de mi vida.

    Por fortuna ahora no solo son unas cuantas buenas canciones, sino que no hay tanta búsqueda, es más intuitivo, la mayoría de las canciones fluyen, no porque sean improvisadas, sino que esa tendencia de los últimos años de pensar demasiado las canciones ya no se impone por sobre la destreza de la banda para construir piezas que se queden rondando en la cabeza, que se recuerden en la piel.

    No es un retorno a un lugar cómodo, no son canciones que busquen emular la urgencia de las primeras grabaciones, es más la confianza de saber cuál es su lugar, cuáles son sus aciertos y debilidades.

    Es entender que eso que hacían, ese “antes”, no es un pasado, sino una identidad.

    Interpol ya no tiene que usar los discos como espejo donde reconocerse, se nota que saben quiénes son, igual tienen dudas, igual hay defectos que se notan en algunas canciones no tan buenas, pero al final son ellos, no hay que buscar la aprobación por aventurarse en terrenos ajenos.

    “Marauder” se puede escuchar con emoción, al terminar la mayoría de las canciones solo deseas que llegue a tu ciudad la gira que te permita escucharlas en vivo.

    Como bien dicen en “Flight of Fancy”, una de mis favoritas del disco, “This was made for me, This is make believe”, esta música está hecha para mí, este disco me hace creer.

    No es un disco perfecto, tiene sus deficiencias, pero posee esa magia que permite que “antes” sea hoy, permite volver a sentir lo que me dio Interpol, me deja cerrar los ojos y dejarme ir.    … Expand
  8. wowee
    Aug 24, 2018
    10
    even the album name is really cool !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  9. jeph_panic
    Aug 24, 2018
    7
    Va detto, "solito" album degli Interpol da Our Love To Admire a questa parte, probabilmente un pelino meglio delle ultime uscite. Come in Interpol ed El Pintor delle perle ci sono, ma a differenza del recente passato sono canzoni che restano, che vien voglia di riascoltare (If You Really Love Nothing, Surveillance, Number 10). Lo abbiamo capito e lo ripeteremo ogni volta, diversamente daVa detto, "solito" album degli Interpol da Our Love To Admire a questa parte, probabilmente un pelino meglio delle ultime uscite. Come in Interpol ed El Pintor delle perle ci sono, ma a differenza del recente passato sono canzoni che restano, che vien voglia di riascoltare (If You Really Love Nothing, Surveillance, Number 10). Lo abbiamo capito e lo ripeteremo ogni volta, diversamente da altre band che hanno un album d'esordio strepitoso, Editors in primis, non si sono evoluti, anzi è ormai chiaro che non vogliano farlo. E forse alla maggior parte dei fan va bene così. Nota negativa, gli stili inconfondibili di Kessler e Fogarino a volte diventano stucchevoli, soprattutto i riff in apertura di quasi tutte le tracce; nota positiva, le chitarre di Banks sono distorte, saturate più del solito, e questo da un tocco di novità che non dispiace.… Expand
  10. Ricko
    Sep 16, 2019
    8
    If you like Interpol then you should really enjoy "Marauder" as it sees the band doing a good job of what they do best. It is every bit as good as 2010's eponymous "Interpol" and 2014's "El Pintor", both of which have been harshly received and were very good records without hitting the incredible highs of the bands early output. "Marauder" sounds grim and dark but this is surely what youIf you like Interpol then you should really enjoy "Marauder" as it sees the band doing a good job of what they do best. It is every bit as good as 2010's eponymous "Interpol" and 2014's "El Pintor", both of which have been harshly received and were very good records without hitting the incredible highs of the bands early output. "Marauder" sounds grim and dark but this is surely what you expect here. "If You Really Love Nothings", "The Rover", "Flight of Fancy" and "It Probably Matters" are all songs that would sit comfortably on a setlist next to the Interpol classics. 6 albums in and they still excite me.… Expand
  11. c4rbs
    Feb 15, 2019
    8
    [PT-BR]
    Esse album veio com tudo, the rover é simplesmente incrivel! Arrisco dizer que esse é um dos melhores albuns do interpol. A bateria e a guitarra estão simplesmente fenomenais, gostoso de mais de ouvir
  12. lulabymusic
    Sep 20, 2018
    9
    ____ "Marauder" is the group's 6th studio album, which did not surprise, but did not disappoint. The musicians demonstrated what they do best: play ringing punk, sing songs about love and be all the same stylish and talented rockers. 13 compositions recorded in the band's own style fully met the expectations of dedicated fans. The album opens up brighter and brighter with each rehearing,____ "Marauder" is the group's 6th studio album, which did not surprise, but did not disappoint. The musicians demonstrated what they do best: play ringing punk, sing songs about love and be all the same stylish and talented rockers. 13 compositions recorded in the band's own style fully met the expectations of dedicated fans. The album opens up brighter and brighter with each rehearing, forcing more and more to fall in love with these passionate lyrics and galloping rhythm sections of guitars.
    ​    … Expand
  13. LebowskiRams
    Aug 26, 2018
    6
    Whether it's the atmospheric opener, "If You Really Love Nothing," the dance-punk lead single "The Rover," the gothic ballad "Mountain Child," or "Number 10," a single with hop in its step and calling upon the surf vibes from "All the Rage Back Home," Interpol's sixth studio album continues their creative renaissance after the dull 2010 self-titled record.

    Confident and intimate,    Whether it's the atmospheric opener, "If You Really Love Nothing," the dance-punk lead single "The Rover," the gothic ballad "Mountain Child," or "Number 10," a single with hop in its step and calling upon the surf vibes from "All the Rage Back Home," Interpol's sixth studio album continues their creative renaissance after the dull 2010 self-titled record.

    Confident and intimate, "Marauder" strips post-punk to its roots, creating Interpol's most original sounding, and strongest, album in a decade.    … Expand
  14. sguy157
    Jul 26, 2019
    5
    Not a necessarily a bad record, but pretty underwhelming to be honest. The album has its moments here and there, but it just feels like Interpol isn't willing to take risks or try anything new. As a result, the sound can end up feeling a bit stale. It's a bit of a shame, since I do like Interpol. But again, the album is not all bad, and there are a few tracks that I thoroughly enjoy, suchNot a necessarily a bad record, but pretty underwhelming to be honest. The album has its moments here and there, but it just feels like Interpol isn't willing to take risks or try anything new. As a result, the sound can end up feeling a bit stale. It's a bit of a shame, since I do like Interpol. But again, the album is not all bad, and there are a few tracks that I thoroughly enjoy, such as "The Rover." I still think Interpol has potential to put out another great record, but to be honest, this does not live up to that potential. Don't mean to sound too negative, but these are just my thoughts after giving this multiple listens. Well, here's hoping for the next one!… Expand

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Most Discussed Album of 2018
75
#75 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Aug 31, 2018
    70
    All in all, Marauder to me are the B-sides from Turn On... not perfect, not weak but with some trimming of the fat, songs that could have fit right in on its deluxe edition.
    Read full review
  2. musicOMH.com
    Aug 30, 2018
    80
    So the album sees Interpol trying some new things, leaning on some preconceptions and loosening some of the ties which have previously bound. And it makes Marauder an extremely rewarding listen.
    Read full review
  3. Drowned In Sound
    Aug 28, 2018
    90
    Treat it like a work-of-art, you might be moved to see shapes too. Treat it like a comeback album, and you might find you miss the point. Open your minds, your ears, your energy--and it will show you incredible sights.
    Read full review
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