MUSIC: INSPIRATION
SHAWN BRACKBILL
MUSIC PRODUCER JIMMY IOVINE, WHO HAS WORKED WITH EVERYONE FROM U2 TO DR. DRE, ONCE PREDICTED THAT THE PENNSYLVANIA BAND WAR ON DRUGS WOULD BE “HUGE.” THEIR SYNTH HEAVY ROCK HAS THE REQUISITE ARENA SOUND, BUT THEY’VE REMAINED INDIE CULT FAVORITES, IN PART BECAUSE THEIR SONGS, WRITTEN BY FRONTMAN ADAM GRANDUCIEL ABOVE, ADDRESS INTROSPECTIVE SUBJECTS LIKE DEPRESSION AND LONELINESS. HE SPOKE TO NEWSWEEK ABOUT THE BAND’S FOURTH ALBUM, A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING, AND HOW IT DIFFERS FROM 2014’S BREAKTHROUGH, LOST IN THE DREAM.