Alkaline Trio – ‘My Shame Is True’

By Tom Aylott

Alkaline Trio turn seventeen this year. SEVENTEEN. It’s a little difficult to comprehend if you’re their typical fan (low/mid twenties Tony Hawk Pro Skater alumni). This here is a band who seemingly remain forever current, that started making music when many of our readers had just got over shitting themselves. It’s a true testament to the band’s love for the music they make and their dedication to it that this year sees the release of their ninth studio album ‘My Shame Is True’.

The album opens up with a massive double. ‘She Lied To The FBI’ is a big tune designed for a massive sing-a-long, it has set opener written all over it, and you already know how good ‘I Wanna Be A Warhol’ is. ‘My Shame Is True’ is essentially an album telling a story of regret, doing an incredible job of telling Matt Skiba’s own personal heartbreak over an ex-girlfriend. ‘Kiss You To Death’ is the best example, with a hard hitting bridge and Skiba delivering some of his most powerful vocals to date.

The hits keep on coming throughout the record – ‘I, Pessimist’ is a big old pop punk tune featuring the vocals of Tim Rise Against, and album closer ‘Until Death Do Us Part’ is mainly chorus led with the lyrics again taking centre stage. It’s an anthem that see’s Skiba begging for forgiveness, and it’s really bloody good.

It’s rare to see a band truly hit upon a return to form in such a big way. The time spent apart in separate projects has seemed to have done the band a world of good. The writing is fresh and a lot less stagnated, and it’s everyone should be left hoping the band work with the absolutely brilliant Bill Stevenson again in the future. It’s pretty clear from this album that both band and producer have worked extremely well together and as a result it’s produced the best Alkaline Trio album in years.

CHRIS MARSHMAN

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