Millencolin – Machine 15

Australia was actually the first country to receive the machine (just like Pennybridge Pioneers & Home From Home) & we’ve been lucky enough to hear it weeks before anywhere else. They must really love our country as they also decided to kick off their album tour here first.

Machine 15 is Millencolin’s eight album release and refers to the Swedish punk rockers racking up an impressive fifteen years together. As such, the album seems to contain a general theme of reflecting on life and moving on to the future. After departing from their ska musical style in early years, Millencolin have undergone little change over the years but their latest record pushes their punk rock music into a more melodic area.

Brand New Game references this change and contains allegories to earlier albums or songs, “Fork & Plate” (Life On A Plate), “Greener Side” (Grass Is Greener),”Twenty two” , “Lozin Must” and “Fingers Crossed”. The track Machine 15 also sounds very similar to their work on Kingwood and is full of great power riffs and a catchy chorus. Detox is similar to their old pop punk favorite Fox and has a bouncy beat and subtle piano kick that’s for all the music lovers out there “She thinks it’s time for your detox. She wants romance but you want guitars” “Your an addictive to the audio, a chronic record lover, who feeds off the stereo”.

Done Is Done introduces some string work from the Swedish chamber orchestra and is a welcome addition that progresses the band into new territory. The dominant drumming, cymbals and violin hit the mark at all the appropriate moments and make it Millencolins most epic song to date. This is complemented with tracks like Brand New Game, Come On, Route One & Vicious Circle which take influences from Nikolas’s solo material and slow down the tempo with tales about relationships or family.

The most effective of these personal tracks is Ducks & Drakes which uses string work and moving lyrics to make a tribute to Nikola’s brother who disapeared 3 years ago without a trace “When bells ring out for those who die, I try to say one last goodbye” “ The thorn will always be in my side”. Saved By Hell maintains the slow pace with more sting work and guitar solos that weave a tale about domestic violence.

Who’s Laughing now is one of my favorite tracks from the album and has a hard hitting beat, harmonic vocals and a sticking chorus that really leaves it’s mark after a number of listens. This is contrasted with the simple track, Broken world which doesn’t significancantly add anything to the well worn issue of global problems, “A broken world well ain’t that a bummer”. There’s also another couple of filler tracks such as Danger For Stranger & Turnkey Paradise, which lack memorable riffs and hold this album back from being perfect.

Overall Machine 15 is an album that accentuates the message of moving on in life and subtlely progresses Millencolin into areas while still retaining a few songs that old fans will be instantly familiar with. While the Orchestral work could have been more pronounced its presence makes the album slowly build on you after a number of listens and show the more melodic side of the band. While not as good as their classic album Pennybridge Pioneers, it sits comfortably between Home From Home and Kingswood with a new style that is best summarised by Millencolin “I would rather take the road less traveled than face shit I already know”.

Highlight Tracks

• Machine 15
• Done Is Done
• Detox
• Route One
• Who’s Laughing Now

Overall Rating: 80/100