photo by CJ Grogan
New Brunswick, New Jersey-based noise/indie rock crew ATOM DRIVER presents a succinct and diverse new three-song EP, Occupants, which the band will self-release digitally on August 9th.
ATOM DRIVER formed in the 2016 when guitarist/Vocalist Mark Segal (ex-Boss Jim Gettys), bassist Justin Ingstrup (ex-Good Clean Fun), and drummer Mike Polilli (Buzzkill) set their sights on blending classic and current noise rock, indie rock, and post-hardcore influences with a love of punk and metal. The trio made their debut with the 2017 EP Slackjaw, produced by Steve Evetts (Hatebreed, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Snapcase, Sepultura) and released on local label Powerbunny 4×4. Two more self-released EPs followed: In The West later that same year, and Here They Come, The Hornets in 2019.
After reassessing their musical vision in 2020, ATOM DRIVER recruited Chris “Crispy” Corvino (Deadguy, Second Arrows) to handle vocal duties. As soon as masks could come off, the group recorded six new songs with Joseph Dell’Aquila at Exeter Recordings. What emerged as the Is Anything Alright EP was more frantic with a more pissed-off vocal style layered over some quite accessible noisy indie rock with nods to bands like The Monorchid, Hot Snakes, Motörhead, Tomahawk, McClusky, and God Bullies. The EP was mastered by Bill Henderson at Azimuth Mastering and saw release in February of 2022 on Nefarious Industries.
While the band continues to mangle riffs into what will become their debut LP, ATOM DRIVER bashed out three new songs which will now fester their way into the public domain as the Occupants EP. Equal parts love letter to pioneering ‘70s pop matriarchs and mandatory pen pal assignment from noise to pop to prog, Occupants sees the quartet secure their intentions hinted at on Is Anything Alright. It’s noisy while catchy, sarcastic, upbeat yet bummed out. It’s the sound of the most fun you can have while remaining fashionably disgruntled.
As with its predecessor, Occupants was recorded, engineered, and mixed at Exeter Recordings in Freehold, New Jersey by Joe Dell’Aquila, mastered by Bill Henderson at Azimuth Mastering, and completed with artwork by drummer Mike Polilli, who also created the new video for the title track.
The first preview of ATOM DRIVER’s Occupants EP comes in the form of a video for its title track, now playing at the band’s YouTube channel RIGHT HERE, and find the track on streaming services.
Occupants will be independently released digitally on Friday, August 9th. Preorder the EP at Bandcamp HERE.
Watch for additional content to drop ahead of the release of Occupants, as well as sporadic live updates from ATOM DRIVER over the months ahead while they continue writing their first full-length.
photo by Megan Ingstrup
Occupants Track Listing:
1. Occupants
2. Say Anything You Want
3. Dale Nixon
ATOM DRIVER:
Crispy – vocals
Mark Segal – guitar
Justin Ingstrup – bass
Mike Polilli – drums
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