After an 8 year wait, the Atlanta band is back with their biggest most polished album yet. This more refined, could even be thought of as more accessible. The Spinal Tap-like cycling out of drummers finds them with drummer number five Douglas Barrett behind the kit. A great deal of the punk sound has been shed, for hooky syncopation that feels more anthemic. The manic energy of "Heironymous Bosch Was Right" finds the band still retaining some of their punk DNA. I suppose when it comes to 90s radio's definition it still fits, as it is at least as aggressive as Bad Religion. After repeat listens it begins to grow on me.
Then there are arena-rocking riffs that hold more common ground with Rage Against the Machine on "Hostage Therapy". Though overall this is a display of the more intentional display of songwriting, as these songs are all catchy as hell recalling the days when music was both fun and dangerous. Lyrically this album displays a great deal of growth as every verse is a clever commentary. "Back When I Was Savage" is the most straightforward song so far, and feels like it could have been left over from the sessions of their previous album.
"Sicko" is convincing in its angry stomp that creates a compelling groove, lyrically it makes you wonder if he is yelling about the Covid days. 'the Death of a Stuntman " is one of the album's most smartly written songs. Lyrically it might be inspired by Christian's day job working in the movie biz in Atlanta. If you are looking for the more rough around the edges sound of the band's previous work the closest you are going to come is "Everyday is Legday". It sounds at times like a less radio-friendly version of an angrier Foo-fighters. "Imposter Syndrome" uses the squeal of feedback as window dressing for Jesus Lizard-like tension. This is the band's strongest work to date and is a portrait of a punk band that grew up into a full-fledged rock band. I will give it a 9.5, the closest they have come to perfect.
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