Millencolin - Machine 15

Oh, Millencolin. After 17 years and 8 albums, you are still going strong as one of Sweden’s most prolific rock acts and one of the few bands still in existence people in their 20’s can look back fondly upon and remember as one of the first bands to inspire them. You’ve lasted this long without any massive mainstream success and boy, are we glad you guys are still out there making music.

With that said, let’s face facts here: Millencolin will never record another Pennybridge Pioneers, the 2000 landmark album many claim to be the highlight of their nearly two decade career span. Since Pennybridge Pioneers was released, Millencolin – composed of vocalist/bassist Nikola Sarcevic, lead guitarist Erik Ohlsson, rhythm guitarist Mathias Farm, and drummer Fredrik Larzon – have gone from arguably their most mainstream release (2002’s Home from Home) to a more back-to-basics approach (2005’s Kingwood), earning mixed reviews along the way. Even though the band has received its fair share of criticism since Pennybridge Pioneers, they have retained the same attitude and the same core members, something any music fan can tip his hat to.

After going so long without a huge single to boost sales, it almost feels like Millencolin are due something big. Their latest full-length release Machine 15 reflects this desire by toning down the anger and high-octane punk rock felt on earlier albums, instead dishing out pop rock hooks alongside a glossy production value. Normally Millencolin have strayed from this maneuver, but with Machine 15 the songs don’t stick with you like they did on previous albums. They’ve ditched their faster numbers for basic three-chord verse-chorus-verse tunes and definitely emphasize the pop aspect of their sound. While Sarcevic’s vocals have improved immensely over the years, and it’s evident he enjoys crooning out a ballad or a delectable pop diddy (and to be honest, the dude knows melody), fans are accustomed to the skate-punk spirit Millencolin used to present rather than the love songs.

“Detox” is a great lead single choice but lacks the meat fans ultimately yearn for; it’s fluff, and while catchy, it’s forgettable. “Done is Done” is out of place, throwing the trajectory of the disc off course immediately. “Vicious Circle,” “Saved by Hell,” and “Ducks & Drakes” are too caught up in displaying a gentler side to the band, and while change is necessary in the music business, it’s far too sudden for a band known for its high intensity to evoke a new sound upon their listeners. The lead title track is deceptive, indicating the disc will be fast paced and just as rollicking as Kingwood was. However, Sarcevic has let the sugary-pop seep into his subconscious and strays as far away from For Monkeys and Life on a Plate as he can. The listener is never given a chance to be amped up, and with the majority of the energetic songs on the latter half of the disc, the case may be that the listener has already lost interest. The record also never quite captures the lyrical euphoria and intentional humor that was at hand in earlier material, and the songs simply validate the fact that all us old school Millencolin fans are just getting older.

Machine 15 in not necessarily a bad record, it is just far too dissimilar and mellower than the Millencolin sound we are used to. In due time, it could be an album that will grow on people and be appreciated for its maturity, but with bands like Lagwagon and NOFX who have been around as long as Millencolin has, the lack of humor and straightforward pop rock approach doesn’t feel right, and the album suffers as a result.

Record Label: Burning Heart Records / Epitaph Records
Release Date: March 22, 2008 (Australia); April 7, 2008 (Europe); May 6, 2008 (USA)

Track Listing
01. Machine 15
02. Done is Done
03. Detox
04. Vicious Circle
05. Broken World
06. Come On
07. Centerpiece
08. Who’s Laughing Now
09. Brand New Game
10. Ducks & Drakes
11. Turnkey Paradise
12. Route One
13. Danger for Stranger
14. Saved by Hell
15. End Piece

Review by: www.absolutepunk.net