Millencolin - Machine 15

Genre punk rock Publisher Epitaph Records External Links Millencolin Website

Millencolin is getting set to release their eighth studio album, Machine 15, in 17 years on May 6th. To be honest, I didn’t really expect them to last this long considering every other band I grew up listening to while falling off of a skateboard went the way of the dodo. That isn’t to say I don’t yearn for my youth, I just wish the newer voyages down memory lane (like Good Riddance’s Remain in Memory) didn’t leave me wishing I had only left it to memory.

From the days of Life on a Plate, Millencolin has always been a supremely entertaining band to listen to. From the goofy lyrics to the fast skate punk to Nikola Sarcevic’s memorable voice, there has always been a good feeling to this long time Epitaph lineup. Really though, how much can a skate punk band really change over almost two decades? Quite a bit, apparently.

This album has a much slower feel than past outings. The opening track, “Machine 15,” was the first track I’ve heard from this band in almost eight years. Imagine my surprise when the playful band that used to sing about eating until throwing up launched into a slower, almost Jimmy Eat World-ish…rock…song. I find myself stretching to call it punk. A few listens in and it started growing on me. “Machine 15” has an unfortunate habit of getting stuck in my head, causing me to whistle the melody (courtesy of Erik Ohlsson and Mathias Farm) incessantly, which my coworkers love.

Nikolas’ vocals do a good job with the new pace on the second track, “Done is Done,” despite repeatedly saying “Please accept, what’s done is done.” Could he perhaps be asking the listener to forgive the change in style? This change in style is most apparent in the selected single for this album, “Detox.” It is essentially bubble gum fluff, and a seemingly poor choice for a single. It tries too hard to be the old Millencolin played at half the original pace. The lyrics are somewhat fun, with an almost-ballad style about all the things that are loved: booze, food, cigarettes and coffee. It isn’t a bad track, but there really needs to be a better representation, at least for the sake of history.

A handful of good tracks that bear repeating, though, so please don’t think the album is a wash over all. “Who’s Laughing Now” has the older speed to it, almost punk-like, same with “Turnkey Paradise.” On the whole, Machine 15 is just better than average. It seems to have lost a lot of what Millencolin used to be: a fast, goofy band with a unique voice at the forefront. The distinctive voice is still there, but the band seems to have slowed down in their old age. It’s worth a listen, but I wouldn’t try to skate to it.