After a brief flirtation with a more alt rock sound, Sweden’s favourite beams of sunshine Millencolin returned to form in 2015 with “True Brew,” so hopes are high for the follow up and I’m here to reassure you that all is right with the world. One of the constants of my 30 year punk/hardcore career the Swedish punks have come full circle with “SOS” and delivered an epic platter of perfect pop punk that stands up to any of their classic back catalogue.
From the opening of the title track, you just know you on to a winner. A kid’s chorus borrowed straight from Pink Floyd are the protagonists for a track that quickly re-establishes Millencolin’s place as Sweden’s answer to Bad Religion. Those kids are back for more chorus action, as things slow down slightly as “For Yesterday” chimes in. With lyrics reminiscing about fallen comrades it betrays the upbeat nature of the music perfectly. And just drink in that perfect piece of lead guitar work too. Wow! “Yanny and Laurel,” named after that piece of audio that did the rounds on the internet dividing the entire world in the process (It says Laurel, by the way), steps the pace up once more while “Reach You” is essentially a love letter that reminds us where the likes of Against Me and their ilk got their inspiration from. Modern social issues are addressed in the typical Millencolin style with “Do You Want War”. Every pop punk album worth its salt needs some “whoa, whoa’s” and “SOS” duly provides with “Trumpets and Poutine” Singer Nikola Šarčević’s passion comes shining through on “Caveman’s Land” as he question’s the concept of countries and land “belonging” to governments. Timely and apt. But never one to leave you with a frown “Carry On” plays the album out with some more “whoa, whoa’s” and a sing along.
So there we have it. A classic band have delivered a classic album. Sure we’ve got a refugee crisis, tyrants in power all over the world and us Brits have Brexit to endure but Spring is coming and Millencolin are back to brighten your days, so let’s be thankful for the little things.