Released 11 October
Concord Records
California punk rock legends The Offspring are back to their usual antics for brand new record, SUPERCHARGED. While the band remain a catalyst for maintaining that cataclysmic punk spirit of the 90s alive in this technological era we live in, frontman Dexter Holland, guitarist Noodles, bassist Todd Morse, drummer Brandon Pertzborn and percussionist Jonah Nimoy demonstrate that the band sound as energized as they were back in the early noughts.
Straight up, Supercharged feels like The Offspring through and through. Upon first listen, I definitely felt like I’d been transported back to 1998 (when I first experienced the band as an innocent 10 year old). Between ‘Looking Out for #1‘ and leading single ‘Light It Up‘, the band’s groovy guitar energy is heavily abundant. While this soundscape has kept the band’s instrumentals intact over the years, it has more or less delivered an almost consistent flair. ‘The Fall Guy‘ however, hits different and chimes in an infectious chord with Holland’s smooth vocals and blast-from-the-past hook.
Furthermore, ‘Make It All Right‘ reminds us of the band’s strong tenacity to pen catchy pop punk like 2003’s hit ‘Spare Me the Details‘. Those catchy “ba-ba-da-dah’s” paired with a simple punk riff is an earworm, and the inclusion of a spoken female voice (“all I want to do is fly away with you”) is a subtle reminder of how The Offspring pioneered that late 90s/early 2000s pop punk movement. ‘Ok But This is the Last Time‘ continues this notion, producing a huge spark in the form of bubblegum pop punk that doesn’t stray too far from a Simple Plan or Sum 41 tune.
It’s pretty easy to see that the middle of this record is as Supercharged as it gets, but that doesn’t mean the rest of it isn’t a thrill to listen to. ‘Truth in Fiction‘ offers fast-paced punk rock that sounds like a tasty blend of Americana, Smash and Conspiracy of One, while ‘Come to Brazil‘ demonstrates scorching riffs that is a fiery example of The Offspring doing what they best — rocking the fuck out. Look, it’s probably an ode to Brazilian punk fans too.
‘Get Some‘ sounds like an authentic B-side from the Smash/Americana eras, featuring a groovy melodic guitar riff that’ll make you throw your rock hand up. By this point, it sounds like Dexter and Noodles are in their prime element and living it up like they did back in the day. While ‘Hanging By a Thread‘ delivers a solid range of gritty punk rock and a sense of familiarity, it is the final track that sums up the band’s sound in 2024. ‘You Can’t Get There From Here‘ powers through internal struggles and injects determination that is seeped throughout the entirety of this record. It is this energy that has fueled The Offspring over the years, from the Americanas and Conspiracy of Ones right through to 2021’s Let the Bad Times Roll.
Without offering too many groundbreaking moments, Supercharged does manage to give Offspring fans what they expect to hear. This record is a commendable effort in maintaining that high-spirited punk rock energy in 2024. There’s no bells and whistles here, it’s just five dudes going back-to-basics, playing the music they always have to their heart’s content and you know what? That brings some hell-bent, fiery zest into the air, and acts as an instant reminder to listeners why they picked up a CD from The Offspring in the first place.
Rating: 7/10
Review By Tamara May
Pre-order/pre-save SUPERCHARGED here
The Offspring – SUPERCHARGED tracklisting:
1. Looking Out for #1
2. Light It Up
3. The Fall Guy
4. Make It All Right
5. Ok But This is the Last Time
6. Truth in Fiction
7. Come to Brazil
8. Get Some
9. Hanging By a Thread
10. You Can’t Get There From Here
