ALBUM REVIEW: Hello Exile – The Menzingers

Philadelphia rock quartet THE MENZINGERS have been exceptional storytellers pretty much since their inception back in the mid 2000s. Though their brand of alternative/punk rock has always weighed heavily on an emotional push and pull – the four piece have never fell into the conventional stereotypes you’d associate with either genre, THE MENZINGERS are as far away from ‘sad boy rock’ as you could possibly be. And that’s down to the band’s astonishing, and consistently high output throughout their careers thus far.

Of course, new record Hello Exile has a story to tell, and it does so in its own unique, heart tugging way. Here we find the Philly boys outlaying the difficulties of mature adult life, more specifically, the dreaded turn of events between your 30th, and 40th birthday. It’s a shrewd move too, the four piece have always been a band that you could relate to on some level, but here the bands target audience will (for the most part) feel an intrinsic link to the chapters of Hello Exile‘s tale.

Whether it’s the self reflective Farewell Youth, or the uber pessimistic I Can’t Stop Drinking – this feels like it’s the most brutally honest THE MENZINGERS have ever been with themselves, and that’s saying something. Greg Barnett‘s aching delivery of “Love’s a cruel cruel joke when the tools in the shed can’t fix what’s broke… so you leave it broke” on the latter in particular is as damning as it is brutally open – a theme that runs throughout the spine of Hello Exile.

But even if you’re not necessarily here for a for a lyrical exploration, Hello Exile has brilliance in so many other areas. The absurdly anthemic chorus of lead single Anna, or the punching stylistic throes of Strangers Forever are two cherry picks out of an album full of sonic excellence, but it’s within the walls of London Drugs that you find the true genius of THE MENZINGERS. Much like with the title track from Hello Exile‘s predecessor, After The Party, the song takes a dark subject matter and surrounds it with an energetic punk rock sensory attack that makes you question what emotional state you’re in: a trait so few bands have, and even less have the ability to deliver with the same poignant nous that THE MENZINGERS do.

THE MENZINGERS somehow continue to be one of the most predictably brilliant bands in alternative music, and if you were assuming that at some point human nature would take its course and the band would take a misstep – Hello Exile will keep your assumptions at bay. From its lyrical ingenuity to its energetic backbone, this record is another trophy in the cabinet of THE MENZINGERS‘ peerless legacy. New album, same old MENZINGERS.

Rating: 9/10

Hello Exile is set for release on October 4th via Epitaph Records.

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