Millencolin kicks off things with "Bullion," a pop-punk tune with the hooks, energetic drums, and the thumping bass lines. And the Swedish accented vocals add something special to the song, to make it different than some of the current pop-punk on the market. Track four, "Killercrush," is definitely an album standout. Starting it off with guitar that will gain your trust, and then the lyrics come in, and you'll be taken. Lyrics are very important to me, and this song is a very satirical song. The chorus goes a little something like this: "It's you, you're overweight and lovely/yes it's true, a pig in walking shoes/you drool every time we kiss, I must say you rule/I'm falling in love with you." The sentence that sums up the whole song is, "good looks, it makes me nervous/I need someone who's not perfect." With a song as catchy as this one, and lyrics to back it up, released as a single it could do quite a lot of damage on the charts. But somehow, I don't think Millencolin really cares what the charts think? And why should they? They are very confident with themselves and their band, and "The Story of My Life," proves this fact. They start out with their trademark catchy guitar intro, and then throw a little ska-like guitar into the mix. The pounding drums, and the energetic bass lines, backed up with lyrics about how they like to feed their stomachs, this band is definitely one to keep your eyes on! If this album doesn't sell a moderate amount, Epitaph is doing something wrong. Track fourteen, "Airhead," finishes up the album with a tale about a guy who thinks he is so cool, when really he is an "airhead" who nobody likes.

This Swedish band has a lot to offer, and your ears need to hear them! If your a fan of pop-punk at it's best, and a fan of lyrics that you can relate to, then pick up this album. I would have to give this album an A+. It is well composed, very infectious, and from start to finish, you won't be wanting to take out the CD!

Milk Cult: Project M-13

Millencolin: Pennybridge Pioneers

[Issue One // July-August 1997]