After more than ten years of silence, The All-American Rejects are finally back with a new album—and it's not what anyone expected. Titled Sandbox, the record marks the band's first full-length release since 2012's Kids in the Street, and it arrives with a fresh sound that challenges both the band and their loyal fanbase.
In an exclusive interview, guitarist Nick Wheeler shared the story behind the album's creation. It all started with a single song. “Tyson [Ritter] came to me and said, ‘Hey, I got this idea for a song. What would you think about recording it and putting it out?’” Wheeler recalled. That track, also called “Sandbox,” became the spark that reignited the band's creative fire after years of creative differences.
“We hadn’t put out original music in a very long time,” Wheeler explained. “And it was the first time we were kind of on the same page in the same timeline. It felt like it was time.”
Going Back to Basics
The process of making Sandbox was both exciting and daunting. After such a long break, the band decided to return to their roots. “We started making this album very similarly to the way we made our first album,” Wheeler said. “We wanted to make music together, and we haven’t wanted to do that in a long time.”
Instead of relying on a major label budget or a big-name producer, Wheeler and Ritter kept things tight-knit. “We could do it ourselves,” Wheeler said. “We wanted to prove to ourselves and to everyone that we could. And I think we did.”
A New Sound for a New Era
Fans expecting another “Gives You Hell” or “Move Along” are in for a surprise. The band has matured, and their music reflects that. The title track “Sandbox” explores the concept of war through a child’s eyes—a far cry from the pop-punk anthems of their youth. “We stopped making full records and doing major tours for about 10 years,” Wheeler noted. “But we still played those old songs. They feel like a moment in time. I hope going back to creating wouldn’t feel like my early 20s. I hope I’d have something different to say.”
Wheeler acknowledged that some fans might be taken aback by the shift, but he’s confident they’ll come around. “I’d be bummed if one of my favorite bands put out a song that sounded 20 years old,” he said. “We’ve always challenged our fans. They eventually come around.”
What’s Next for The All-American Rejects?
With Sandbox now out in the world, the band is ready to reconnect with their audience—on their own terms. “We realized we still had fans out there,” Wheeler said. “But it wasn’t about capitalizing on nostalgia. We were waiting to see if and when we’d be ready to make new music together. That was an experiment.”
For fans who’ve stuck with them through the years, the wait is finally over. And if Wheeler’s words are any indication, The All-American Rejects are just getting started.
For more on the band’s journey, check out our exclusive first look at other returning favorites and our ranking of top American fantasy TV shows.
