By Tommy Diehl

Japandroids have resurfaced. Nearly four years after the release of their last album, Celebration Rock, Japandroids returned with the release of their third studio album, Near to the Wild Heart of Life, on Jan. 27.

The rowdy alt-rock duo from Vancouver made up of Brian King and David Prowse is currently touring to promote their new music and will be making a two-night stop at the 9:30 Club in D.C. on Feb. 27 and 28.

After garnering great success with the raw sound and feel of Celebration Rock, Japandroids found themselves touring like there was no tomorrow. The high energy shows night after night helped to establish Japandroids as one of the most high-powered rock bands in North America.

“We got physically and mentally drained by the time we finished all those shows,” Prowse explained, reflecting on that grueling period of touring. “The idea was just let’s just do what we need to do to be able to come back and be excited.”

Celebration Rock demonstrates that time off can really help. Staying true to their youthful lyrics about struggling with everything from girls to moving to a new place, Celebration Rock presents the most polished sound that Japandroids have ever put out.

New songs like the nearly eight-minute long epic, “Arc of Bar,” put on full display the new attention to detail that Japandroids brought to the studio. New instrumentation can be tough for a rock-duo, but Japandroids executed it beautifully this time around with a crisp new sound that remains true to their rowdy classic-rock roots.

In what is sure to be one of the most energetic rock performances 9:30 Club will see this year, Japandroids will play a mix of old and new music you can check out here. Tickets for the two shows can be purchased here.

Featured Photo Credit: Feature photo courtesy of JAPANDROIDS on Facebook.

Tommy Diehl is a freshman architecture major and can be reached at tdiehl@terpmail.umd.edu.