Let's put this how it should be. Millencolin are a pop-punk band near to perfection. They started out with the rough anthems from Life On A Plate and Same Old Tunes, but in Februrary of 2000 they released Pennybridge Pionners, undoubtedly one of the best pop-punk albums of all time. Now, 5 years on from that infamous album, they are attempting to redeem themselves after the disappointing Home From Home
This album starts straight away, sending you furiously into the blisteringly fast Farewell My Hell. It's hard not to like the feel of the song, because it sounds like their older stuff. The riff sounds quite dark for them, but it has that pop-punk feel Millencolin have created oh-so well.
We get sent through similar songs Birdie and Cash Or Clash, before reaching the surprisingly melodic Shut Me Out. A very soothing intro graced with the typical Millencolin guitar riffs and drum beats make this song perfect, and Nikola's vocals do sound quite poetic to the music.
This leads into Biftek Supernova, probably the fastest song on the record. Clocking in at a mere 2:16, this song sends you through a journey of hastey anthemic music and bizarre lyrics. You don't expect it after Shut Me Out, but it's such a good surprise track the first time you listen to it.
Now the album leads you through more rough songs for Millencolin. My Name Is Golden sounds similar to Farewell My Hell, playing open strings with the hand on the strings to cause a scratch kind of strumming. It sounds so amazing in this song.
Next is Ray, the "radio" single in my eyes. It's the kind of chirpy pop-punk anthem you would expect Millencolin to release, with cheery lyrics and hooks you just can't hate, no matter how hard you try.
This leads into Novo, with my favourite intro of the CD just because of the panning in the first few seconds. The song however sort of drowns off, trying to recreate Shut Me Out as well as it can but failing miserably.
OK, I lied. Simple Twist Of Fate is probably the fastest song on the album, with a total time of 1:26! Personally I don't like this song, it doesn't sound like Millencolin and it doesn't suit their style. But it does a good job and proves they can play a variety of speeds and sounds without losing their "style".
Stalemate is next, which is a bit of a downer in my eyes again. It's hard to create tracks at the end of the album that keep the listener hooked, especially with such a band like Millencolin who's sound rarely changes. Sadly, track 10 is where I lose a bit of interest...
...But Mooseman's Jukebox quickly picks that up. Thank God, a song I love at the end of a Millencolin album. It's superb, the chorus is undoubtedly the catchiest on the album, but it goes so well with this anthem. It's a shame it's only 2:11, but it's probably my favourite song on the album.
Hard Times has the insanely hard task of a pop-punk closing song. It is also the longest track on the album, taking up just over 4 minutes of this perfectly crafted album. It does a good job though, it doesn't make you want to skip it and turn it off, but at the same time it doesn't sound too amazing after the class pop-punk anthems that have just been playing. Also, the outro is very odd, it kind of just skips like a record. Annoying touch when it's playing on my Zen
After listening to the album in it's entirety again and again, I can safely say that Millencolin are back with a vengence. Skater pop-punk is back as long as they are concerned, and it's come to show all these
fucking poser "hardcore" bands how to make music for the fans. Sure, most of the songs sound the same, but Millencolin are that good. Maybe this album isn't the Pennybridge Pioneers they released 5 years ago, but they have done a
damn good job trying to recreate it!
