Fucked Up – ‘Another Day’ album review: effervescent punk giving us something to smile about
THE SKINNY: On their latest album, Another Day, Canadian hardcore legends Fucked Up produce another vibrant batch of tracks that explore the highs and lows of everyday existence and the stark difference that one day to the next can bring. Just like life itself, the highlights on this one are excellent, and the odd low points are ones that we won’t be rushing back to relive.
A collection of ten well-constructed and purposeful pieces, Another Day is yet another reflection that Damian Abraham, Mike Haliechuk, Sandy Miranda, Josh Zucker and Jonah Falco still have much gas left in their creative tank. They’ve always been one of punk’s most imaginative outfits, and on their new record, they display this status again. Abraham’s distinctive throaty delivery remains, as does his intentional and effective lyricism, supported by big, narcotic, effects-laden guitars, expressive basslines and locomoting drums. The band create a cacophony of sounds, and often, there’s a lot to dig into and cheer about.
But it isn’t perfect. The asterisk that lets this album down is that it dances with incredibly poppy, sometimes too upbeat consistencies every now and again. While these are certainly in the minority, they do work against the overall quality of the album, as the band’s pursuit of total everyday joy crosses over into the territory of pure cheese, and their motivations get lost in the colourful mesh of five imaginations. Ironically, when they do pursue such a route, it also becomes more forgettable, which is a shame as the potent tracks really do hit the spot.
Fundamentally though, Fucked Up have triumphed once again on Another Day. The best songs on the album are entertaining and contain vital messages that supply a sharp ray of light to cut through the darkness of our present times, and for that, they must be applauded. As an artist, it would be much easier to fall into messaging about hatred and anger, particularly as a hardcore band at heart, but they hold firm against the winds of change and show us that love really is the way.
For fans of: Stagediving, bearhugging your friends, doing shoeys right after ripping a bong and vomiting in the call centre toilet on Monday morning.
A concluding comment from your local scene’s biggest gatekeeper: “Urgh, this isn’t punk, let alone hardcore…”
Another Day track by track:
Release date: August 9th | Producer: Mike Haliechuk | Label: Fucked Up Records
‘Face’: A resounding opener, complete with Abraham’s raw delivery, a frenetic punk beat and clangorous guitars, this is the latest chapter of Fucked Up to a tee. The energy is palpable. [4/5]
‘Stimming’: Bouncing from one anthem to another, the second stop fuses the group’s proclivities for an all-encompassing and uplifting spin on punk with a hefty dose of tangible and emotive energy, making the goosebumps rise as the various textures and dovetailing guitars captivate. [3.5/5]
‘Tell Yourself You Will’: A blistering track opening with the tense pounding of the drums, it then bursts into straight-up effervescence with Abraham’s classic yowl providing an interesting counterbalance to the cacophony and the forceful backing vocals. It’s super noisy, uplifting and drives headfirst to its climax, with the frenetic bridge and guitar solo a highlight. [3.5/5]
‘Another Day’: Opening with the dissonant bends of reverse-delay guitars, the rhythm section then explodes into action, and a strange groove is introduced; it’s off-kilter but remains driving. This is one of the songs that sees the Canadian punks push their formula into a completely different realm, with the dynamics, harmonised guitars, expressive drums, and backing vocals giving it a sort of rock opera vibe. [3.5/5]
‘Paternal Instinct’: The opening section of this one is also evocative of 1970s rock operas, with its cheesy synths, swirling effects and ample room left for Abraham to deliver a surreal sermon. For me, this is one of the worst tracks on the record, it just meanders too far into ridiculousness. That said, there is a highly satisfactory chord progression towards the end. [2/5]
‘Divining Gods’: As soon as you hear the quick, effects-coated guitars that introduce this track, you know what’s coming. Within the blink of an eye, Fucked Up slices through the speakers, and another piece of uplifting punk is quickly plated up. It’s really catchy and delves into post-hardcore with its noisy, dynamic nature and ever-so-slightly emo melodies. [3.5/5]
‘The One To Break It’: An absolutely chaotic track with an array of elements contributing to the sonic stupor, this stop has a post-hardcore edge too. Somehow, the group managed to package catchy harmonies into a mix featuring a rapid beat and searing guitars with aplomb. [3.5/5]
‘More’: This is the best song on Another Day. By far the darkest number with its churning, 1980s metal-recalling riff, slow groove and heavy, sliding bass, it’s a departure from the general vibe of the album and a welcome one. It’s a touch unconventional, entirely genuine and fully confident in its abilities, three things that aptly describe the latest Fucked Up record. The almost psychedelic climax, with its harmonious melodies, is exquisite. It typifies just how far the group push punk in their best moments.[4/5]
‘Follow Fine Feeling’: The penultimate number veers too far into poppy bombast despite the clear earnestness behind it. Musically and lyrically, it’s just a little too much. [1.5/5]
‘House Lights’: A return to a grittier, atmospheric sound here is augmented by Abraham’s essential message. The world is full of strife, he tells us, but we have to keep finding the joy until the end. Given the chaos the world is currently engulfed in, this is a consequential point, ballasted by the frontman and the band’s vigorous performances. There’s a nice little orchestral glimmer at the end, too. [4/5]
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