No.62 - SOS by Millencolin (2019)
“We go to practice almost every day; And our conductor tells us how to play; You blow the trumpet and I slap the bass; We are a big ensemble called the human race…”
Millencolin were one of those punk rock bands I had heard of, but never took the leap to buy an album. That was until I found a signed copy of ‘Kingwood’ in a charity shop in Petts Wood. It took me a while to really get into them, but safe to say, they are now one of my favourite Punk Rock bands.
A far more hectic and angry style than the likes of the more commercial Punk bands, Millencolin tend to give us the gritty side of society and politics. Their sound is more toward the less cheesy side of the Offspring (eg.The Kids Aren’t Alright) yet a little more thrashy, and Nikola Sarcevic’s vocal tone fits so well.
But they're not a shouty hardcore punk band. Songs tend to focus around the minor key and the melodies are excellent. There’s a lot of energy and heart in every song. They also use harmonies in a subtle way; less grand than Bad Religion, but creating a unique effect.
A special mention for the album cover. The animated style is present on almost every Millencolin album but this one in particular is one of my favourite covers of all time. It represents the threat of global warming; one of the biggest issues of our current times. Whilst over pollution caused by industrial factories is still a major problem, the wealthy fight over the race to space. Ultimately, a VIP culture being the death of this world and it’s beauty.
Millencolin formed in 1992, and hail from Sweden. Their name is derived from the skateboard trick ‘melancholy’. SOS is their 9th studio album and the blue vinyl is in my collection.
Favourite songs - Trumpets & Poutine, Yanny & Laurel, … Sour Days, SOS
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