After nine years of relative silence and a new label The Offspring has finally released a new studio album Let The Bad Times Roll. The album consists of 12 new tracks (including the already in 2015 released single “Coming For You”).

Here’s my review of Let The Bad Times Roll

Of course the hand and voice of front man Dexter Holland is immediately recognisable but I’m slightly disappointed. I don’t hear the rawness that made The Offspring one of the leading pop-punk rock bands. The sound is rather polished and the poppy element has been raised to cheesy levels.

On the other hand are the compositions and arrangements the same as they were in the nineties. It doesn’t feel like the band has used the hiatus to really work on material and development of their sound.

To complete the album of pop-punkrock, there’s the jazzy shuffle “We Never Have Sex Anymore” (middle age much Dexter?) and an instrumental version of “In The Hall Of The Mountain King”. The latter I can imagine works well as intermezzo during a live performance but including it on your studio album? Also dusted off and romanticised is 1997 single “Gone Away”.

At least the better songs “This Is Not Utopia” and “Let The Bad Times Roll” open the album, but in my opinion The Offspring should have left it at an EP and not make it blatantly clear that inspiration and holy fire has been gone.

Check out the lyric video for “This Is Not Utopia” below

Check out the video for “Let The Bad Times Roll” below:

Do you agree with my assessment? Leave a comment below and let me know.

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