For a genre where adherence to a strict loud-fast dynamic is required of any band hoping for traction, it is not necessarily a slam that there has never been a whole lot to differentiate Alkaline Trio from the gazillion other pop-punk bands that have proliferated local punk scenes from Chicago to Long Beach over the past twenty years.
The Chicago threesome's guitar-bass-drums dynamic and reliance upon tried-and-true chord structures would've floated by with little notice if not for singer/guitarist Matt Skiba's murderously dark lyrics and band visuals that bore at least a passing resemblance to Rob Reger's "Emily The Strange"merch.
Admittedly, it was those visuals first drew me to the band's music and, upon ripping the shrink wrap from 2003's Good Mourning, this writer fell hook, line and sinker for Skiba's darker-than-blood lyrics.
While that album stands as the band's best consolidation of sonics and execution, sadly, Skiba's vocal troubles at the time kept the album from reaching its full potential. Thankfully, Skiba and band have continued writing and re-writing the same songs again and again in hopes that the industry stars will one day align, bringing them the platinum acclaim they so richly deserve.
So when the band repeats itself, as on "Throw Me To The Lions" from the new album, the results are still so joyously worthy of cranking up the stereo.
And, let's face it, what band working on their ninth album isn't faced with the prospect of repeating themselves more times than not?
After all, with fans and record labels clamoring for a return to the days of Goddammit or Maybe I'll Catch Fire, who can blame a band for giving fans what they want at a time when the industry has all but removed the motivation to make any new music at all?