Style 43

Swedish pop-punk legends Millencolin are back for the first time in 3 years with their 7th studio album ‘Machine 5‘. Due for release on May 6th, ‘Machine 5’ upholds the Millencolin sound whilst progressing and evolving throughout the album. The record begins with a solid drum-beat and before you know it the defining voice of vocalist/bassist Nikola Sarcevic is screaming through your eardrums, sounding better than ever before.

The diversity of this album shines through on each track, with the tempo swaying from fast to slow, back and forth on each song, with pumping pop punk beats and sing-along lyrics its classic Millencolin at its best and for me a reminder of why this band have stuck fast within a sometimes fading scene and are still going from strength to strength. Whilst some tracks on this album come across perhaps less aggressive than they have in the past and sometimes, slightly, a bit too poppy. It turns out this track that I’m mainly referring to is ‘Detox‘, their first single off the album. I reckon this track will go down great with fans of bands such as Good Charlotte but for fans such as myself who like Millencolin for their faster, punkier tracks, might turn their noses up a little.

Back on with the good stuff. The next track ‘Vicious Circle’ is one I’ve become fond of, one I’m sure will become a classic track and definitely stay as a favourite of mine for a while. Its infused with gorgeous lyrics , a great chorus and a driving, addictive beat. The rest of the album flows incredibly, vigorous songs bound from one to the next and its certain Millencolin have done well. Its keeping in true tradition and maintaining every element a punk-pop fan could ask for. “Brand New Game’ was the stand-out track for me, with the lryics “I’m not the same, the years have passed. It kind of scares me how it went so fast. This brand new game, will I surpass? All I wanted was to make it last”. Millencolin are for me a band with many memories attached, and this song grabbed them from the back of my mind and swirled them around in my stomach.

Its clear they once again teamed up with the producer of their 2003 record ‘Home From Home’, Lou Giordano, who has also worked with bands such as Taking Back Sunday and Plain White T’s. “We wanted the kind of crisp sound that Lou is notorious for. Plus we have a great chemistry with him,” guitarist Erik Ohlsson said.

‘Machine 5’ is a great edition to an already classic back-catalogue of punk-pop albums from Millencolin and I’m confident this will be a welcomed record by their dedicated fan-base. The boys hit Europe for a tour in April but for now unfortunately won’t be making any stops in the UK. Fingers crossed we’ll get ours soon.

WWW.MILLENCOLIN.COM
www.myspace.com/millencolin