21 March 2012
All Or Nothing is living proof that even after 24 years, a new frontman doesn’t necessarily spell death to all that was pure and good. Unless of course you are Queen.
Next month, after their longest hiatus yet between records, Californian punk rockers Pennywise will break their 14-year silence and release album number ten, All Or Nothing. With Zoli Téglás of Ignite now at the helm after Jim Lindberg retired from his 21-year tenure (to front The Black Pacific), it’s already evident the recording held more anarchy than previous outputs. Tracks like X Generation and Songs Of Sorrow aren’t tired or forced, TMN wouldn’t be surprised if this is a collection of first or second takes.
Téglás has a history of lending his voice to other bands; his past collaborations with The Misfits and Motörhead are apposite on the title track where he channels the aggression of both but mixes the band’s own trademarks through the post-chorus chant.
But it’s not all pulsing guitars, high-pitched riffs and meticulously placed whoa oh oh’s; Stand Strong is as hopeful as it is magnetic. Inspirational lyrics about tenacity and brotherhood teamed with charging chord progressions that sit on the upper level of the punk rock spectrum offer the same fizzy blood rush found in fourth record Full Circle.
It has to be said though, All Or Nothing is in no way on the level of Full Circle; in some ways it seems they’ve even churned tracks through the pop cogs. All Along borrows the yowl and simple, almost lazy lyrics of Sum 41; however the staccato strumming and out of breath, dirty projections in earlier track Seeing Red quash any musings Pennywise may have been influenced by a rookie producer.
As instrumentally effervescent as it is galvanising, loyal Lingberg fans needn’t worry, Téglás fills his dusty shoes with the hard and bloodied sole of a seasoned manic.
All Or Nothing is out April 27 through Epitaph.
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