What’s In The Box? This week’s CD reviews
on June 1st, 2012This week we cast our eyes over the new Millencolin CD/DVD ‘The Melancholy Connection‘, Buried In Verona’s much anticipated ‘Notorious‘ album, the debut full length for Local Resident Failure titled ‘A Breath Of Stale Air‘ and the new Japandroids album ‘Celebration Rock‘. See below for our thoughts on each of the releases.
MILLENCOLIN – THE MELANCHOLY CONNECTION – EPITAPH – AVAILABLE NOW – [Buy on CD/DVD]
A new collection of hard to find b-sides and a couple of new tracks from the ever reliable Swedes. Even their non album tracks make a fair effort when slapped together. But it is the DVD part of this one that is the highlight, and worth the price on it’s own. A must watch for anyone who has spent time with their ‘Pennybridge Pioneers’ album. The 90 minute documentary covers the recording of this classic album, and also includes recent live footage of the band playing these tracks. It’s very in depth and the cameras were around for the whole process which makes for great viewing. You learn the stories behind each track, see them lay them down and get a really great insight into how the band was working at that point. It’s a documentary that keeps you glued to it throughout, there are no boring bits, and let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good Swedish accent? The songs on the CD are decent, new ones especially, but buy this one for the DVD and set aside a couple of hours to enjoy it.
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BURIED IN VERONA – NOTORIOUS – UNFD / WARNER – AVAILABLE NOW – [Buy on CD]
These guys have come a long way since their last release, a few lineup changes prior to recording this new one, and they make a massive difference. Once again recorded in Sweden with Frederik Nordstrom and Henrik Udd, this is the album that will propel them multiple steps forward. They’ve catered for many ears with this one, there is enough of the screamy / grumbly stuff for the moshlord teens out there, and there’s a good amount of cleaner vocal action for older ears like mine who are over being grumbled at. How this sits with the younger folk will be interesting to see, but it will open them up to a wider audience. The album starts in mighty angry fashion musically and lyrically with ‘Maybe Next Time’, sure to be a popular track live. ‘Miles Away’ is the next track to jump out at me, but it’s track 5, ‘Lionheart’ that really stood out. The slowest / cleanest track on the album, but not without it’s power in the lyrics and delivery. I can see this track blowing right up, may take the kids a while for it to click with them, but if this one gets the single treatment with a good video clip, it’ll be everywhere. Massive potential this one, I keep coming back to it each play for multiple listens. The second half of the album, much like the first, I’m drawn to the tracks with the cleaner vocal much more than those without it. ‘The Descent’ is another highlight. While 90% of my attention is drawn to the one track, it doesn’t mean the rest doesn’t cut it. The band serve up a really strong / diverse album with ‘Notorious’, and I’ve no doubt they’ll reach much greater heights on the back of it, and surprise quite a few people too. Well worth checking out
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LOCAL RESIDENT FAILURE – A BREATH OF STALE AIR – PEE RECORDS – AVAILABLE JUNE 15TH – [Buy on CD]
Going by the artwork and tracklisting you’d be expecting a straight up Frenzal Rhomb type album, and while that isn’t too far off the mark, these Newcastle guys lean a bit more towards the NOFX sound with an Aussie touch. It’s taken a number of years, loads of touring and a some smaller releases, but now they come to the full length. In typical punk rock fashion they cram 15 tracks in 32 minutes, the lyrics blend a little silly with a pinch of serious, and a few rounds of fun. It’s an album where you know what you are going to get, they aren’t going to throw in any curveball tracks, it’s fast punk rock from whoa to go. Pretty consistant quality wise throughout too. Highlights come from ‘What’s The Good News?’, ‘(Still) Kickin’ On’, ‘Recall’ and ‘Where The Bloody Hell Are Ya?’ If you still enjoy blasting a bit of fast ‘n snotty punk rock, then get on this one. It won’t let you down.
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JAPANDROIDS – CELEBRATION ROCK – POLYVINYL / INERTIA – AVAILABLE JUNE 29TH
Riding on the wave of two piece bands that has been growing of late, these Canadian’s earnt themselves a solid reputation on the back of their debut album ‘Post-Nothing’. Later this month this new one will be unleashed. Listening to their sound you wouldn’t pick them as a two piece, their sound is nice and full. Sitting somewhere between garage rock and punk rock is their sound. Raw and catchy, loaded with energy. It’s an instantly likeable album, doesn’t need growing time at all. If you haven’t heard of them yet, you soon will once this comes out. Highlights include ‘The House That Heaven Built’, ‘For The Love Of Ivy’ and ‘Fire’s Highway’. Australian version is loaded up with 7 bonus tracks too.
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Want your release considered for review? Send it along to PO Box 8032, Werrington County, NSW, 2747
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