Reviewed on Apr 22, 2008 by Roel

I’m not going to waste to many words on this release. Everybody knows who Millencolin are and what they’ve been up to. They’re turning 15 this year, thus aptly titled their new album “Machine 15”. I used to be a huge fan of this band until the release of their “Home From Home” album, where they started moving away from punk rock to a more pop/rock sound. Nothing wrong with that per se, but I just miss the fun, pace and energy that made their older releases so damn good.

With “Machine 15” the band has completed their transition from a punk band to a rock band. Where their previous record “Kingwood” still had a couple of fast songs, all you’ll find on this album are mid-tempo poppy rock songs. The songs are pretty catchy, well produced and vocalist Nikola really shows that he is still the vital part of this band. Unfortunately, nothing really sticks. Due to the lack of variation and change of pace the songs tend to blend over in each other. After the first few songs the album just drifts back to the background. It’s lovely music to listen to while you’re working, but not very interesting to listen to on its own.

Don’t get me wrong here. Despite a couple of annoying choruses and songs being stretched just a little too long for their own good, there are no really bad songs on here. I really enjoy the opening track “Machine 15”, which could have been taken straight from “Home From Home” and the extremely catchy “Detox” and “Danger for stranger”, two poppy tracks that sound just a little more upbeat. These are the only songs I can really remember though and I listened to this album six times today: not a very good sign. Most of the songs on here aren’t very memorable at all.

Millencolin failed to impress me once again. They’ve moved away from the band I used to love so much and although they certainly know how to write a catchy rock song, nothing really sticks. “Machine 15” is wallpaper-music. A pretty, rather expensive wallpaper, but it’s still just wallpaper. A couple of good songs don’t save a record. If you’re hoping to hear the Millencolin of old: forget it. They will never return to that sound again and I can’t blame them. I just hope they make their next record a little more interesting.

Related Links:

• www.millencolin.com
• www.burningheart.com
• www.myspace.com/millencolin

1. Machine 15
2. Done Is Done
3. Detox
4. Vicious Circle
5. Broken World
6. Come On
7. Centerpiece
8. Who's Laughing Now
9. Brand New Game
10. Ducks & Drakes
11. Turnkey Paradise
12. Route One
13. Danger For Stranger
14. Saved By Hell
15. End Piece

Band Profile

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Album Reviews

	Machine 15 Apr 7, 2008
	Kingwood Apr 12, 2005
	Home From Home (2) Mar 12, 2002
	Home From Home Mar 12, 2002
	Man Or Mouse (CDS) Nov 30, 2001