Rancid are back with the bands latest album Tomorrow Never Comes that sounds exactly how you imagine an album by Rancid should sound. The formula isn't broken so they haven't gone Krunk, Folk or drum and bass. The current line-up of Rancid are Tim Armstrong, Lars Fredriksen, Matt Freeman and Branden Steineckert as they have been since 2006. The album was recorded at Ship-Rec studios in Los Angeles and produced by Brett Gurewitz who also provides backing vocals as they manage to sing 16 songs in 28 minutes this album doesn't hang around.
Tomorrow Never Comes rages right out of the gate, like they have bile spewing like a volcano from every orifice imaginable, as they lay down just what's got them in such a rage, the guitars and drums just pummel the message home.
Mud, Blood & Gold is amped up, with chant along lyrics this flies by. Devil In Disguise is a warning that you never really know what anyone is up too, so be careful out there, this has a real Irish lilt to the main vocals, as they slow down to about 120 MPH as they list all the tragic outcomes that may happen if you don't pay attention to the wolves in sheep's clothing.
New American is an anthem for the immigrants that make America the place it is, guitars are flying all over the place as the drumming nails everything to the walls.
The Bloody & Violent History is another song about not trusting anyone especially your neighbors, watch out, avoid the lawmakers and intimidators, so everyone watch your back and Tim and Lars will play some more cracking guitar for you.
Don't Make Me Do It is about getting 86'd again or threatening to 86 someone and trying not to do it in a furious 58 second song. It's A Road To Righteousness is Rancid preaching that you should live by the gentleman's code and hate authority and try to good, so sign up and join Rancid in making the world a better safer place to live.
Live Forever is super speedy, chanting hoping for immortality, that can only come by making loads of records that people will still want to hear in 300 years' time, will this be one, maybe.
Drop Dead Inn careens across the speakers, strafing the place with splenetic guitars, as they arrange a meet up with everyone they need to at the Drop Dead Inn, as they look round at the terrible state of the world.
Prisoners Song is full pelt for those locked up that may need a bit of sympathy, rather than the scorn reserved for certain prisoners, as they want to free everyone from the prison of every day drudgery.
Magnificent Rogue speeds things up even more they are truly celebrating the rock and roll lifestyle to help make things bearable.
One Way Ticket to let them get the hell out of town at top speed, things have changed and not for the better, they just need to go someplace better, or in the bands case out on tour, when they have that one-way ticket every day of the week.
Hellbound Train is careening down the tracks towards you, ready to destroy everything you think is worth keeping. Eddie The Butcher is furious frenetic as the tale of Eddie The Butcher unfolds at breakneck speed, he may be on the road to Leigh On Sea but I'm not sure if he's a master butcher or not.
Hear Us Out is a blueprint for living life decently, showing love to others, pay people properly and stick together and destroy the government.
The album closes with When The Smoke Clears one last blast of raging guitars for the memory of the victims of another tragic factory fire, will the culprits be brought to justice or will they just be forgotten. As they slow things down a bit to mark time, make sure you pay attention to everything they say.
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