There isn’t much new that can be said about Millencolin nowadays, the Swedish punks have been doing this now for sixteen years. ‘Machine 15’ is album number eight, they’re showing no signs of giving up or losing sight of the prize, it hits as hard as anything that has come before, and offers so much depth which just isn’t there with so many bands. There is an amazing diversity within this album, it’s not just about making punk songs, they’re exerting a feel for the more intricate details within each song.
Going soft they are not, there’s a more refined song craft on offer but Millencolin still offer the same punk ferocity for the most part. The whole album might as well be a stand out track, everything differs every so slightly, they maintain a level of interest throughout. It thunders into life with the title track and preserves a momentum which only the best bands can maintain over the course of the three songs. Everything builds gloriously, the string section during the intro to ‘Done is Done’ is a particular early highlight. ‘Vicious Circle’ is the most pop offering on the entire album, the acoustic intro gives way into an upbeat palm muted verse and eventually unleashes the biggest, most infectious chorus of the entire album.
Throughout they maintain this feel, it’s as if the next massive chorus is just around the corner. With so many songs this is exactly the point, they always offer enough of a decent melody to keep you hooked. ‘Come On’ stands out for it’s addictive hook, before slipping back into the more familiar territory of ‘Who’s Laughing Now’, although even that has an amazingly simple and catchy hook. It’s not hard to see what this album is about, so many bands strive to make their music catchy for the exposure, Millencolin don’t need to do that anymore, they’re addictive and catchy just for being a good band. ‘Brand New Game’ is the massive epic which only serves to re-affirm this belief.
It’s nice to listen to a band who just happen to be this good at what they do, it’s no accident, but at the same time it’s not over-rehearsed or overly packed with endless poppy elements in an effort to sound appealing. Millencolin are just appealing because of who they are and what’s come before. ‘Machine 15’ isn’t what they were when they first emerged, they’ve grown over time and have managed to produce a massive, epic, melodic, but still completely credible and essentially punk record. This is a classic example of the sort of music that will put a smile on your face and will always welcome you back with open arms. It’s not complicated, it’s not trying to be something it’s not, it just is what it is; a damn good album.
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![Millencolin - Penguins And Polar Bears [Video]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/file.png)
Millencolin - Penguins And Polar Bears [Video]
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Millencolin - Machine 15
