The Early November returned from hiatus in 2012 with a new album (In Currents) after half a decade removed from the scene that fostered them in. For fans of the group who had waited for something new since their disbandment in 2007, it was more than enough to satisfy. The big (and greedy) question to follow was “what’s next?”

Ace Enders is known to be a busybody, and with 2014 mostly in the dark, it seemed odd to hear nothing two years after their last proper release. Fortunately, the year ended with Enders releasing a surprise I Can Make A Mess record and a few reports about a new album in 2015.

The Early November always manage to pull surprises out of nowhere, blending sounds of raging punk, pop and the sweetest acoustic ballads you’ve ever heard. With the range of Enders’ writing ability, it’s about anyone’s guess as to what direction the new album will take, but it will be perfect.

Part of the reason this is all good news isn’t just the fact that it’s new music; The Early November are a fairly niche band. Their brand of emo punk has more or less died out and they have but a few records to their name, but not only were they welcomed back onto the scene with open arms and fanfare, they came back swinging with a headlining tour and a full run on the 2013 Vans Warped Tour. Of the few bands who make it back alive after being away for so long, even fewer hit the road half as energized.

The Early November have never disappointed in trying to do everything right. With a new album on the way, the band is exactly where they want to be.

Kyle Schultz is the Senior Editor at It’s All Dead and has worked as a gaming journalist at Structure Gaming. He lives in Chicago and has listened to The Early November at least once a week since 2002. He has had several awkward experiences meeting his musical hero Ace Enders after accidentally dropping ice cream in front of him and stupidly trying to cover up the crime in a blinding white panic. He hates deer.