Album Review: The Offspring - 'Supercharged'
Following on from the success of 2021’s Let The Bad Times Roll, California rock legends The Offspring have come back in another strength with the electrifying new record SUPERCHARGED.
Being the name on every punk kid’s lips since their rise to stardom in the 90s, The Offspring have been one of the most consistent acts of the alt uprising of said decade. From opening track ‘Looking Out For 1’, they have retained that trademark sound of rocking guitar riffs and the eternally youthful vocals of frontman Dexter Holland leading the track from start to end.
Recently celebrating the 30th anniversary of their smash hit record, rightfully titled Smash, the test of time is showing to have not failed them like it may have with many of their industry counterparts. One of their latest singles, ‘Light It Up’ is a storm: suddenly taking over and ruling non-stop until it reaches its eventual end and the quiet of the aftermath. This follows smoothly into the anthemic ‘The Fall Guy’; a track that previews the underrated highlight of this American outfit: their harmonies. Distributed around the catchy chorus and breaking up verses with chants of “whoa”s, and it’s that element of classics gone by that keep bringing the overgrown kids back and pull the new kids of the scene in for the first time.
Pop-punk acts get mocked by their community and beyond for being kids who never grew up - but when the music sounds this fun and the words get caught in the brain, no one is laughing and everyone is singing along.
One of their latest cuts from the album titled ‘Come To Brazil’ is one of the best, if not possibly the best composition found on SUPERCHARGED. It’s not just the mix between heavy rock verses and melodic choruses repeating the track’s title; it’s the tongue-in-cheek element threaded within. The “come to Brazil” joke is one of the longest lasting music industry memes, inspired by fans’ comments wanting, hoping and praying to see their favourite bands in their home country, and one that many mainstream acts have acknowledged in delightful and lighthearted manners.
Broken up with a classic football chant mid-track, it’s showing another reason why The Offspring will stay fresh despite their long-ago beginnings: they can keep up their on-brand humour, but instead of referencing old-school pranks and misfortunes, they have adapted their references for the modern internet-influenced society. They would rather keep up then stay in the past, and it’s working in their favour.
The Offspring have never had to change what it means to be The Offspring, and it shows in their catalogue of bouncy mosh-worthy music. Comparing the likes of ‘Light It Up’ to their past tracks such as Smash’s ‘Self Esteem’, the sound is still there, the energy has only grown stronger, and the lyrics have remained both clever and cheeky. SUPERCHARGED has come at the right time, and these California kings have rightfully sat on their thrones for over 30 years, and many more to come.
Long live the kings.
Words by Jo Cosgrove
