When it comes to La Dispute, it's quite a mixed bag. Some fans have wanted them to stay in the mode of that 2000s and 2010s emo revival, aka the Wave. They'd cling to records like Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair, Rooms of the House and Wildlife, as well as the Here, Hear series and splits with bands like Touche Amore. Others wanted more artistic progression from the poetry and wordspeak of old, ergo why they'd side with Panorama, for example. Luckily, both sides can be sated with No One Was Driving The Car, which doesn't just act as a sonic middle ground, but a reminder how we change as we get older, yet we can still have nice, nostalgic things. It's dynamic, multi-faceted in terms of being a novel you can listen to on long drives or while doing chores, and a stark reminder that La Dispute hasn't lost its artistic edge.

The poetic vibe is there off the cuff with "I Shaved My Head," which once more echoes the agony, tragedy, loss, life and love singer Jordan Dreyer waxes on about often. This time, his voice is worn, weary but that of a man, not a young boy now experiencing life. It hits home harder on an emotional level as well for someone like me who has followed them for decades into manhood. The quiet-loud dynamic is also present on tracks like "Environmental Catastrophe Film" and "The Field," as if to reassure older heads this record won't alienate them. 

But there is evolution, too. Fans of Blur, the Prodigy, Refused and the '90s in general could look to "Man with Hands and Ankles Bound" for something a bit more aggressive. However, the magic's in the details with tempered acoustics such as "Self-Portrait Backwards" and the title track. The latter has a louder, screaming Dreyer evoking what made the band what it is today. It's proof that simplicity works, whether it's the slower jams, the noisier, intense ones or the shimmery, post-rock and shoegaze spine of "Dreamt of a Room with All My Friends I Could Not Get In." Made for Explosions in the Sky fans to say the least.

At the end of the day, this record is timely and I think that's a poignant factor we cannot ignore. In a time of AI and cultural colonisers and appropriators, I implore you to get in. What's on tap if you're new to them? Unfettered rage, pure heart, and an unflinching degree of soul embossed over raw honesty. Most of all, this record is a companion I think will stand the test of time, age so well, and blend generations and eras of emo-post-hardcore fans together live, which is the goal this band always aims for and accomplishes. Here's to more success, not just on the musical front, but for La Dispute's humanitarian efforts and charity works, too. Check their socials, donate to their causes and keep this record spinning at a time war, hatred and anger permeate throughout. It may be a treatment, not a cure, but that's all we can ask for: a salve and temporary respite.