By: Andrew Rawlinson
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Released on October 27, 2014 via Hellcat/Epitaph Records
A band that need no introductions, punk rock legends Rancid deliver the goods once again with album number eight ‘…Honor Is All We Know’.
A 14 track collection of energetic punk rock kick-started by ‘Back Where I Belong’ in typical style of buzzing riffs, dual vocals and gang chants with Tim Armstrong’s trademarked “lazy” vocal style in prominent position.
All fine and dandy but follow up track ‘Raise Your Fist’ is where things begin to fall down as despite a pleasant melodic tone and various gang chants including “Oi Oi Oi” refrains, the anti-authority based lyrics are VERY repetitive – so much so that even only at 3:05 in length (longest song on the album), it drags on far too long.
‘Collision Course’ gets momentum back on track with an up-tempo and bouncy rhythm and a far better chorus and is followed up by the delightful, ska-infused ‘Evil’s My Friend’, which is proper bouncy with hints of organ.
The next batch of tracks from ‘Honor Is All We Know’ through to ‘Face Up’ plough the straight-up Rancid punk rock furrow to varying degrees of success. The former has some great bass lines while the latter suffers the same fate as ‘Raise Your Fist’, with an annoyingly repetitive chorus.
‘Already Dead’ ‘Diabolical’ incorporates a dash of Psychobilly into the mix while ‘Everybody’s Sufferin’ goes into full on two tone Ska mode to great effect.
At 32 minutes it’s short and to the point, ensuring the misfires pass by quickly enough although it is pretty much a holding pattern album. It won’t win any new fans but will tide the existing ones over happily enough.
