After seven years away from records, Millencolin are officially back to business as usual with their latest offering on Epitaph, ‘True Brew.’ As guitarist Mathias Färm said “we felt that it was important to have something really good to offer in terms of a new album”.
Opening track ‘Egocentric man’ throws you back to the early days of this Swedish skate-punk band, their energy relentless, as is their political rhetoric. It is immediately obvious that they are here to conquer all before them, both the old faithful and new ears looking for a vibrant, fun sounding band with serious things to talk about.
‘Sense and Sensibility’ has an edgy little intro that will get circle pits perspiring all summer long and is probably the stand out track on the album. Vocalist, Nikola Sarcevic talks about tolerance but how there is none left when he looks at the state of the world today and how strongly he disagrees with racism, among other things that are wrong in the world. The song also has a lofty sing-a-long near the end that will surely prove to be a hit with festival goers as the band follow up with this release with several appearances over the summer months.
Title track ‘True brew’ is not about beer. It is about doing what you want to do and following your dreams, not listening to the status quo and doing what makes you happy. It is truly the fingers up to society, to what is expected. “I don’t want to live my life doing stuff I don’t like to do, I just want to spend my time on creating something true.”
Nikola Sarcevic has a really throaty and distinctive voice which sets Millencolin apart from the rest of the skate-punk crowd and is a sound only gained after 23 years and 1,500 gigs. It adds a tenacity and seriousness that mirrors the subject matter of their politically minded prose.
‘True Brew’ – an album self-recorded by the band, produced by Sarcevic and Färm in Soundlab Studios, mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Soilwork, Paradise Lost) is an album for those looking to get behind music with a message, it is an album that speaks to those who want change and to those who question the power structures that rule the world.
It’s clear the band members are just as unified as they were when they formed Millencolin seven albums ago. “We’re a band truly formed from respect and understanding for each other and our passion for rock music,” explains Sarcevic. “If you ask us, this is the best job in the world!” This positivity and sense of kinship is reflected in this album and shows what time can do – a timeless yet modern offering that could only really be released by a band with so much history and experience. Be true to yourself and go check out Millencolin’s latest concoction.
DAVID BULL