ALBUM REVIEW: Some Of It Was True – The Menzingers

Philadelphia-based quartet THE MENZINGERS are well-loved for their modern spin on a traditional punk rock sound, and seven albums in, their latest offering Some Of It Was True hopes to make an equal impact. The band are known for their lyrics and gritty storytelling, packed with angst and drama.

For this latest album, they draw inspiration from folk music, using hindsight to reflect on their personal life experiences, making this album undoubtedly vulnerable and honest. Reaching a height with their previous albums in 2017 and 2019, the bar is high, and to maintain that level of quality would be extremely difficult, but their main aim with Some Of It Was True is simple, to have fun and be themselves.

Opening with Hope Is a Dangerous Little Thing, the album has that distinct angst and grit that makes the band unique. The raspy, captivating vocals reflect this level of desperation, and are reminiscent of bands like TAKING BACK SUNDAY, with that classic American rock feel. THE MENZINGERS have mastered heart-breaking songs with unnecessarily catchy choruses, and it’s clear from the beginning that this latest release will be no different. The lyrics are painfully honest and straight up, and undeniably bleak. This gloomy attitude continues through many of the songs, and the lyrics get increasingly more dramatic, and at some points, cheesy. That isn’t always a negative though, and with the backdrop of big guitars and sing-along choruses, they fit into the old-school rock kind of genre really well.

One thing that THE MENZINGERS have mastered is the intensive imagery in their lyrics, and they really have a talent of transporting listeners to the exact places described, in a physical and emotional sense. An example of this is Some Of It Was True, the album’s title track, which perfectly encapsulates that level of maturity and wisdom that comes with hindsight and experience that the band often describe in their lyrics.

Whether or not it’s a relatable feeling, the song is easy to connect with, and it definitely brings a level of comfort in confusion and helplessness. This happens again in the closing track, Running In The Roar Of The Wind, where the lyrics capture a certain kind of bleak depression, but the honesty and genuine nature that comes through makes listeners really care about the message, and possibly not feel alone if they can relate. Additionally, the lyrics have a more positive spin, which doesn’t feel fake but optimistic, and is actually a perfect note to end the album.

While THE MENZINGERS have always had a very distinctive sound, and done it well, this latest album definitely feels as though they are taking that as far as they can. While many of the songs can come across as cliché or cheesy, some are extremely catchy. If some tracks aren’t as unique or inspiring as others, the ones that stand out definitely make up for it. With romanticised lyrics and intensive choruses, Some Of It Was True has a stadium-rock kind of sound, and is a solid release from the much-loved band.

Rating: 7/10

Some Of It Was True is out now via Epitaph Records. 

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