The Offspring released their newest album Let The Bad Times Roll on April 16th, and it’s one of the most high-energy projects that’s been put out this year so far! This is the band’s first studio album in almost nine years since Days Go By, and their first studio album ever with Concord Records. Though this is the longest stretch of time between two Offspring albums, the band definitely didn’t disappoint.
With the exception of their newest rendition of their well-known classic “Gone Away” and the closing track “Lullaby,” the entire album is a non-stop rollercoaster jumping on and off its tracks – it’s fast, it’s exciting, and it’s a little bumpy, but in a good way. You’ve got Dexter Holland’s distinctive gritty vocals shining through almost instantly, and as soon as you hear him belt it out you realize just how much you’ve actually missed that passion these past 9 years. Each song has its own flavor, and it doesn’t take much to find something to love about every second of it all. Whether it be the familiarity of certain tracks or the new little flares the band tosses in here and there, it’s all just a whole bunch of fun.
“We Never Have Sex Anymore” is one of the many highlights of the album, combining the classic straightforwardness and humor of the band’s songwriting chops with a trumpet and a great overall flow. Close behind follows a quirky addition “In The Hall Of The Mountain King,” which showcases the infamous classical jam in the form of a musical panic attack as the guitar becomes faster and faster until it abruptly ends. After that, we quickly return to the album’s regular feel with “The Opioid Diaries,” which was excellent. The entire album is practically a party to listen to and definitely what we needed after being cooped up for so long.
It’s not as much of a “punch” as some of their other work, but it’s still them, and it still rocks. For letting the bad times roll, listening to the album is a pretty good time.
Rating: 7.0/10
