4/5 stars
It felt like the end of the road for a minute. Millencolin’s last LP, 2008’s Machine 15, was decried as their worst ever, and the beloved Swedes more or less retreated with tail betwixt legs. They later re-emerged with a tour celebrating worldwide breakthrough Pennybridge Pioneers, which subsequently allowed them to reconnect with what made them such a standout band to begin with.
They return with True Brew, which may well be the best LP they have made since Pennybridge. The mojo is very much back in swing, with the band returning to sharp riffs, all-encompassing choruses and a briskness that may not even allow for the phrase “wham, bam, thank you ma’am” to pass through in its entirety. Highlights include the title track, ‘Sense & Sensibility’ and the explosive opener ‘Egocentric Man’. They serve as exceptional takes on the foundations Millencolin have built up in 20-plus years together, amazingly sounding neither tired nor like a cowardly retreat into familiar territory.
Against the odds, the Örebo natives have revived themselves and kicked down the idea of their dream ending anytime soon. You’ll be singing along to True Brew before you’ve even finished your first listen.
Millencolin’sTrue Brew is out through Epitaph/Warner.
