The Menzingers are one of my favourite bands at the moment. Starting out as a punk act, they’ve slowly moved towards a more expansive sound, including an anthemic folk-rock quality not unlike the music of The Gaslight Anthem or Bruce Springsteen. Whilst it’s quite a definitive change, the band have still retained their punky roots, with Some Of It Was True being a fantastic all rounder of a record. It’s a good album, so long as you’re not dying to hear a record full of high-tempo, punk rock bangers.
By Jane Howkins
Some Of It Was True starts out with two belting songs in the form of Hope is a Dangerous Little Thing and There’s No Place in This World for Me. Both tracks are extremely catchy, having a singalong quality on the chorus that will be perfect for the band’s live shows. The passion is clear in the well-written lyrics, evoking feelings of past lives and loves in the mind of the listener. Two fantastic openers indeed!
Leaning more into the band’s modern rock roots are Nobody Stays and title track Some of it Was True. The verses are fairly melodic on both songs, rising up to a heavier chorus made complete with some epic guitar riffs. The vocals are soaked in emotion here, displaying a sense of heartfelt reality that will capture the souls of any listener. Not my favourite tracks on the album by any means, but worthy additions to the band’s catalogue.
Try sees The Menzingers going back to their punky roots, although it still remains exceedingly catchy, repeating the titular refrain over and over again. Making for a wonderful change of pace is the two punch hit of Come on Heartache and Ultraviolet, two of the most stripped-down songs on the album. However, they really work, making for a nice middle point on Some Of It Was True.
Take It to Heart has more of an indie rock vibe, showing the band going in a slightly different direction. The track is characterised by a spiky guitar riff, full of bluesy grooves. It shows a real sense of attitude at times, creating yet another genre within the band’s stable of sounds. Love at the End and Alone in Dublin are two more straight up rock songs, showing The Menzingers doing what they do best. These are emotional rock songs with a slight edge, containing some subtle yet killer guitar riffs.
High Low is, in my opinion, one of the best things this band have ever done. It’s got a definitive country/Americana feel, reminding me of some of Against Me’s early stuff. The guitar riff fits the stomp of the beat well, sounding almost like something that could belong in a spaghetti western feel. I’d love to hear the band doing more songs like this in the near future!
Final tracks I Didn’t Miss You (Until You Were Gone) and Running in the Roar of the Wind are more of the same – they’re fairly mid-tempo rock and roll bangers. Whilst there are certainly less punk rock songs on Some of it Was True, the steadier tracks still have a lot of heart and soul, showing a natural progression in the band’s move towards a more mature sound.
Some Of It Was True is an album full of soul and energy, showing a lot of maturity for The Menzingers. Whilst older fans may be disappointed by the less punky sound, the songs the band have written here are still fantastic to behold, adding a different sort of angst into the mix. It’s incredibly earnest, seeing the band navigating their aging years with grace and style. It’s not my favourite record The Menzingers have produced, but I still urge you to give it a try – even the punk purists should find something to love here.