ALBUM REVIEW: Let The Bad Times Roll – The Offspring

Nine years have passed since THE OFFSPRING last released a full-length album, but the time has finally come for them to unveil a brand new offering, Let The Bad Times Roll. Long since renowned for their highly distinguishable punk rock style, they have generally approached their writing process with a middle finger aimed firmly at subtlety, and have produced some of the genre’s most iconic tracks that are played on loop in bars and venues around the world to this day (when they’re allowed open at least!)

The band state in their press release that the upcoming record contains some of their more cathartic content, which although being far an alien concept to the Californians, it isn’t exactly their most recognised modus operandi. Fittingly, the record feels more mature than it’s predecessors, perhaps indicative of the length of time that has passed, and the state of the modern music scene. The fast, frenetic punk rock riffs remain, and at face value it remains a flowing, engaging THE OFFSPRING album.

The album begins with This Is Not Utopia and the first thing that springs to mind as GREEN DAY‘s American Idiot. It’s angry, telling of society and the tattered state it finds itself in, and aims an angry, pointed finger towards that. As the band themselves say, “the messages may be dark, but at the end what’s left is that communication is important.” Which seems to be the album’s main goal – a musical expression of free speech.

The title track is a contemporary pop rock segment – more danceable than moshworthy – and Behind The Walls continues the emotive riffs and sing-a-long choruses. There is something of a nice ebb and flow to the album, as the band pour their decades-long experience into a record that feels like a fine addition to their discography. Most of the tracks feel as though they could be equally single worthy, with a possible favourite coming in the form of the incredibly catchy Coming For You.

The nostalgia continues to pour, but the bottom line is that Let The Bad Times Roll sounds exactly how you would expect an album from THE OFFSPRING to sound in 2021. A blast from the past, and one as equally likely to appeal to old fans as new, but it confidently stands on its own merit today. As comedic lyrics wrap neatly around more serious subject matter however, it might just be one of their most concise records. 

Rating: 7/10

Let The Bad Times Roll is out now via Concord Records. 

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