Nowadays there are different attitudes and opinions towards what makes a good punk track, the majority of so called “punks” believe that a punk song is invalid if it either lacks throat shredding, screamed inaudible vocals or if the band/track don’t toe the line between mildly and hideously offensive. Whereas some others tend to judge the band’s music on the lead singer’s fringe. Therefore, if you use any of these to judge punk music, you probably won’t enjoy The Menzingers’ latest album very much.
Having recently signed to Epitaph records the Philadelphia punks have written and recorded their third studio album; On The Impossible Past. Previously providing live support to such acts as Against Me! And Anti-Flag, while constantly gaining notoriety from their single releases thus far.
The album opens on an omnipotent high note with Good Things, a short, sharp burst of proper punk energy, purveying a stadium-ready, sing-along chorus, reflecting the Gaslight Anthem, straying out of the 59 sound’s control, led by gritty vocal undertones. As does single; The Obituaries, implementing penetrative, staccato power chords that materialise into an energetic wall of sound. Again, led by unique vocals purveying stark lyrical realism, abiding to a typical western neo-punk style.
Whereas, latest single - Gates ventures into a new territory, indistinguishable upon the band’s previous releases, from the arpeggiated chords to the whip-cracking snare that leads the mellow verses, accompanied by brief guitar fills, right through the storming chorus, seeing a controlled explosive dive into up-tempo masterpiece, settling back into the verse, a technique repeated through the whole track. The album also contains the odd slower, laid back tracks, such as the title track and the closer – Freedom Bridge.
Thus, from the poignant opening right through to the solemn finale, accepting and enveloping the journey that On The Impossible Past takes us on, exploring different sounds and territories that are prominent upon works from other punk artists. Being the sun-drenched riffs through Mexican Guitars and the narrative Sun Hotel, that steps onto the bridge that divides folk-punk from pop-punk, yet maintains to a true punk rock style, leaving the album as a strong contender for punk album of the year!
Jonathan Hatchman.
You can now stream The Menzingers Epitaph Records debut On The Impossible Past by going to: http://www.punknews.org/article/46191
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