When we talk about specific genres or their related movements, we often associate them based on location. With regards to punk, we can go on about the UK’s contribution in the 1970’s, with THE CLASH and SEX PISTOLS helping change the face of music as we knew it, there’s the American market with the likes of California’s GREENDAY, BAD RELIGION and many, many others being hugely successful…but when was the last time Sweden got a mention? Well it’s getting one right now, because for over 20 years, MILLENCOLIN have been flying the flag for European punk rock and have enjoyed a more than respectable career since their formation in Örebro in 1992. This year see’s the Swedes release their eighth full-length studio album; “True Brew”… Bäst att smida medan järnet är varmt as they say…
We open up with “Egocentric Man” and it’s rich in it’s seemingly Bad Religion style influence, but with Nikola Sarcevic’s vocals notably gruffer in their delivery. It’s got a basic feel with its simple drum beat, really your typically standard punk track as a whole but not unpleasant. “Chameleon” follows up with a more up-beat energetic number; full of melody and with a great chorus, this is perfectly executed pop-punk and an early highlight. “Bring Me Home” gives you a full feel for the bands influences from skate culture, being big fans of the sport, it’s easy to imagine this, along with “Sense & Sensibility” being used by the likes of Ali Boulala in session videos, it’s got that whole Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game soundtrack feel to it and is very easy on the ears.
The rest of the album consists of short, sharp tracks that rarely surpass the three minute mark, characteristic of the genre, with “Perfection Is Boring” and “Something I Would Die For” in particular standing out as further album highlights, resulting in a consistently brief yet enjoyable album from start to finish. Millencolin will in all likelihood never reach the heady heights attained by Greenday’s “American Idiot”, but where they lack in major commercial success, they more than make up for it in the love for what they do. “True Brew” is to be appreciated simply for what it is, and what it is is a quality punk rock record, no more, no less, and really it’s all you need. Ingenting är nytt under solen [7]
We open up with “Egocentric Man” and it’s rich in it’s seemingly Bad Religion style influence, but with Nikola Sarcevic’s vocals notably gruffer in their delivery. It’s got a basic feel with its simple drum beat, really your typically standard punk track as a whole but not unpleasant. “Chameleon” follows up with a more up-beat energetic number; full of melody and with a great chorus, this is perfectly executed pop-punk and an early highlight. “Bring Me Home” gives you a full feel for the bands influences from skate culture, being big fans of the sport, it’s easy to imagine this, along with “Sense & Sensibility” being used by the likes of Ali Boulala in session videos, it’s got that whole Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game soundtrack feel to it and is very easy on the ears.
The rest of the album consists of short, sharp tracks that rarely surpass the three minute mark, characteristic of the genre, with “Perfection Is Boring” and “Something I Would Die For” in particular standing out as further album highlights, resulting in a consistently brief yet enjoyable album from start to finish. Millencolin will in all likelihood never reach the heady heights attained by Greenday’s “American Idiot”, but where they lack in major commercial success, they more than make up for it in the love for what they do. “True Brew” is to be appreciated simply for what it is, and what it is is a quality punk rock record, no more, no less, and really it’s all you need. Ingenting är nytt under solen [7]
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