millencolin - pennybridge pioneers

by mr. todd

Millencolin is back with its first studio album in over three years, and what an album it is. Pennybridge Pioneers is a fast paced album that never lets up. The album is populated by fourteen melodic skate punk tunes that will stick in your head for days. Millencolin is 4 Swedes who are signed to Burning Heart, which is Epitaph's European Divsion. Nikola Sarcevic delivers some vocals that cannot be matched anywhere, and some great bass parts. Sharing the responsibilities of guitar are Erik Ohlsson and Mathlas Färm, who both do blend so nicely, its hard to tell when one is playing and one is not. Then on drums is Fredrik Larzon, who keeps the beat throughout each song on the expert level.

The album starts out perfectly, right in your face, with the song "No Cigar." The snare drum roll with the guitar tells you automatically that this album is a keeper. The lyrics to "No Cigar" will hit right at home for some people too, because as the saying goes "close, but no cigar." Right on the tail of No Cigar is "Fox," which opens with an unforgettable guitar riff that draws the listener right into the song. The first single off of the album, "Penguins and Polar Bears," is the perfect song about polar opposites. The song is serious in tone and walks a fine line on the border of hardcore and punk, yet still leaning more on the punk. It is without a doubt the album's best song. Other songs like "Hellman" and "Stop to Think" bring out the pain of relationships with some lyrics that will hit the listener where it counts, in heart and mind. "Highway Donkey" is a song that will make the listener want to get up and start jumping around, wherever they may be. "A-Ten" show the meaning of loss and wanting with the lyrics "you want to see her back again, you want to see her back into this world," and an unbelievable guitar solo at the start of the song. "The Ballad" is just that, an emotional song that will make everyone stop to think. The song is played acoustic most of the way, and a simple drumbeat lets the listener focus on the strong lyrics. "The Ballad" follows "Penguins and Polarbears" closely for the best song on the album.

Pennybridge Pioneers is an album for anyone who is a fan of melodic skate punk. The songs will captivate the listener and make them want to go buy some of Millencolin's other albums. This quartet of Swedes is a group to watch. Check them out on the this summer's Warped Tour. Pennybridge Pioneers is an album to get, there is no doubt there.