Millencolin: Machine 15

I’m hoping that one day we can all look back on Millencolin’s new disc, Machine 15, as a transition record, the album where the Swedish pop-punk band really came into its own with a sly mix of punk rock attitude and mid-60s pop sensibility.

Simply stating that “Detox” is the standout track on the record is overstating the obvious to say the least. With it’s nods to the British Invasion sounds of yesteryear, it’s easily the most sophisticated bit of songcraft to come from these guys yet. Emphasis on yet. I’m really hoping for more of this in the future.

 
The audio sunshine of “Detox” also rubs off on a few of the other tracks, best illustrated by the politically-minded “Broken World,” the super squeaky-clean “Come On” and the zippy chorus of “Danger for Stranger.”
 
That’s not to say the rest of the record is bad. On the contrary, it’s chock full of exactly what we’ve come to expect from Millencolin after all these years, with richly layered vocals and big guitars all over the place. It’s just that seven albums in it’s refreshing to see them branching out a little. These guys sound great when the back off on the wall of guitars once in a while, and I for one encourage them to do it more often.

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