Photo by Dan Monick

“I don’t think we’re the most technically proficient band in the world, and we’re not the most original-sounding or challenging band in the world. But we’ve always put a lot of passion into what we do, and I think that’s resonated with a lot of people,” says Japandroids drummer Dave Prowse on their career. It’s been seven years since we’ve last heard from the Vancouver fuzz pedal blasters, and in the absence of those thrills, we’ve perhaps learned not to take them for granted when they come back around again. “Chicago” marks the beginning of one last round of fired up late-night anthems with Prowse and vocalist and guitarist Ben King leading the charge heading into the duo’s fourth and final chapter, Fate & Alcohol. They weren’t wrong about what they get right with their celebration rock, as they’ve rarely strayed from the winning formula of descript feelings on love and life over two shots, a fighting energy, and some curse words thrown in for good measure, delivering peak “dudes rock” revelations here from a The Bear-core POV. “Goddamn, ma’am, I’m / Sweating through my shirt / Any more, my body is gonna / Burn up in front of everyone,” the tandem’s voices coil up through the flames. We are so back, but then again, these kind of full blown feelings never really leave you…

Japandroids’ Fate & Alcohol will be released October 18th on ANTI- Records.