"Marauder" is the sixth studio album by American rock band Interpol, released on August 24, 2018, by Matador Records. Produced by Dave Fridmann, the album was recorded at his studio, Tarbox Road, in Cassadaga, New York, from December 6, 2017, to April 18, 2018.
The album features a more polished and dynamic sound compared to some of their earlier work, with Fridmann's production bringing a new texture to Interpol's music. Three singles were released to promote the album: "The Rover" on June 7, "Number 10" on July 30, and "If You Really Love Nothing" on August 23, just a day before the album's official release. These singles helped set the stage for the album's reception and showcased its evolving sound.
In a September 2016 interview on Beats 1, Interpol's singer and guitarist Paul Banks announced that the band would resume writing music in the fall of 2016. They began rehearsal sessions in October, and by January 2017, the band officially revealed that their sixth studio album would be released in 2018 under Matador Records. However, their recording schedule was interrupted by a tour celebrating the 15th anniversary of their debut album, Turn on the Bright Lights. This tour ran from August to October 2017, after which they resumed work on the new album.
By May 2018, the album was in the mastering stage. During the anniversary tour, they included a song titled "Real Life" in their encore setlist, which was the first song written for the album but ultimately did not make the final cut. The album's title was accidentally leaked by Pitchfork on May 24, 2018, when it appeared in their "Pitchfork Guide to New Albums: Summer 2018" list, but the listing was quickly removed.
Leading up to the album's release, the band engaged in a promotional campaign featuring cryptic social media posts. One image included coordinates that pointed to Mexico City and was accompanied by the caption "maybe it's time," hinting at an upcoming event in the city on June 7.
For the recording of Marauder, producer Dave Fridmann insisted on using two-inch tape, a choice that significantly influenced the album’s sound. Fridmann highlighted the difference in mindset required when recording on tape, as it necessitated perfect takes rather than relying on digital fixes. Guitarist Daniel Kessler appreciated this approach, noting that it led to a raw and unpolished record-making experience, which was a deliberate shift from their previous methods.
