Album Review: Pennywise - Never Gonna' Die (Epitaph)

Artist: Pennywise Title: Never Gonna Die Label: Epitaph Records Release Date: 20/04/2018

I first discovered Pennywise back in the late nineties. Being a skater back then and checking out the latest VHS tapes that hit the local skate shop you would always find the likes of Bad Religion, The Offspring and Pennywise rocking the soundtrack so this album takes me back to my youth.

This is Pennywise Twelfth studio album and is the first full album of new songs with singer Jim Lindberg, guitarist Fletcher Dragge, drummer Byron McMackin, and bassist Randy Bradbury since 2008 'Reason To Believe' it's hard to believe its been 10 years but for the most this is a return to form for the So-Cal skatepunkers. The album starts with the title track of the record 'Never Gonna Die' followed by 'American Lies', 'Keep Moving On' and 'Live While You can' and it hits hard...very hard. Melodic riffs, fast palm muted guitars and unrelenting drums they produce their trademark sound that made them the band we know and love, these songs would not be out of place on any of their early 90's releases. Tracks 'Can't Be Ignored' and 'Goodbye Bad Times' slow down the pace giving the listener a breather, but these songs are very forgettable and kind of put you on a downer after the frantic start to the album. In 'A Little Hope' Lindberg seems to have borrowed same vocal melody from Graffin in the chorus of Bad Religion's 'Gods Love' but they have stepped up their game with great harmonies, slick guitar work and some awesome bass work throughout.

All in all Pennywise have produced for the most a very slick aggressive sounding album and is there best effort in my opinion since 2003's 'From The Ashes'

'Never Gonna Die' is still available on a few different colour vinyl Clear w/Black Smoke (500 copies) Blue (Indie Exclusive)