Pedals is the second studio album from post-hardcore band Rival Schools, released 10 years after their debut record United by Fate was first released. Glassjaw and Head Automatica frontman Daryl Palumbo remixed the track "Choose Your Adventure". Background and production Following the demise of Quicksand, frontman Walter Schreifels formed Rival Schools at the recommendation of his label Island Records. The band consisted of Schreifels, and hardcore punk veterans Sam Siegler on drums, Cache Tolman on bass; guitarist Ian Love joined months later. The band released United by Fate in September 2001, and promoted it through to mid-2002. In December that same year, Love announced his departure from the group, choosing to focus on his side project Cardia. In early 2003, Chris Traynor of Bush was announced as their new guitarist, and the band recorded their second album. Island Records subsequently shelved it, and the group broke up. Schreifels moved to Berlin, Germany, produced albums for Hot Water Music and CIV, formed Walking Concert, reunited his first band Gorilla Biscuits, and moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Siegler joined Nightmare of You, and Traynor and Tolman formed Institute. Rival Schools reformed in April 2008, which Schreifels credited to the Gorilla Biscuits reunion: "I longed for the togetherness that defines Rival Schools." They appeared at a variety of festivals and went on a UK tour. During a performance at Download Festival, they debuted four new songs. The band wrote some new material and made demos shortly after the reunion; they wrote an additional five-or-six prior to entering a studio. On January 27, 2009, the band announced they had begun recording a new album, and eventually finished in late 2009. The majority of the album was done at House of Love in Brooklyn, New York, with the band producing and Love handling recording. Additional recording was held at Studio G, with Joel Hamilton and assistance by Francisco Botero. Love mixed "Wring It Out" and "The Ghost Is Out There", Chris Sheldon mixed "69 Guns", "Eyes Wide Open" and "Shot After Shot", with the remainder being done by Hamilton. Will Quinnell mastered the recordings at Sterling Sound. Composition Pedals has been described as an emo, pop rock and post-hardcore release, utilizing less distortion and a lack of heavy sound that was prevalent on United by Fate. Schreifels said the writing was informed by the experiences the members had while in their various other bands between 2003