Forget the hype, bravado, cult appeal and everything else that goes on with Fucked Up. When you listen to ‘The Chemistry of Common Life’ just let all your preconceptions go out of the window. Forget what you’ve heard. Empty your mind. Because you might think you know how this record is going to sound, but I guarantee it’s not quite that…
This is a very good album. It’s a change in direction, it’s not as ‘punk’ or ‘hardcore’ in sound as their previous work or as the press release would have you believe. The band are vicious at times but more constructive and structured in their delivery. At times the band are expansive and epic (‘Golden Seal’) while at others they just rock the fuck out (‘Magic Word’). They cover a range of lyrical topics and are anti-religion. But one thing that really stands out is just how HUGE this record sounds. There are 18 tracks of guitars alone on ‘No Epiphany’, while there are as many as 70 layers of multi-instrumentation on others.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not an easy or accessible listen. Don’t expect to sit down and be blown away straight away. But as this record seeps into your brain expect it to slowly take control. And when you get stuck into the weighty subject matter expect this to take over your life…