Bringing back the original alternative genre flare, Idiot Pilot’s new album Wolves sets the tone for what’s up-and-coming in the alternative rock world. The band consists of Daniel Anderson and Michael Harris from Bellingham, Wash. The two have been friends since elementary school and began writing music together at the age of 12. Idiot Pilot’s sound is based in alternative rock but also uses ambient and electronic elements to give it a distinct feel and sound.

Anderson and Harris also brought some of their post-hardcore influences to their music as well. Teamed up with Ross Robinson of At The Drive-In and Glassjaw as producer and co-produced by Mark Hoppus bassist for +44 and Blink-182, Idiot Pilot was able to stretch its musical style to new limits. “I definitely feel like Wolves is a huge progression for us. Music is what we live for,” Harris said.

Idiot Pilot’s first album, Strange We Should Meet Here, was recorded on pirated software when Anderson and Harris were still in their teens, Wolves, takes a different approach to the recording process. Hoppus and Robinson were not the only outside sources that helped Idiot Pilot with its vision for Wolves.

Travis Barker of Blink-182 and the Transplants joined them in the studio to record a live drum track and Chris Pennie from the Dillinger Escape Plan recorded the rest of the drum tracks for Idiot Pilot. “It was a very different vibe than just getting a hired drummer; he was very much part of the process,” Anderson said of Pennie’s involvement. Being just a duo, Idiot Plan switched things up in order to play live shows. The live set-up on stage has Harris playing guitar and a live drummer as well.