22 tracks, 60 minutes of pure German melodic metal with lush orchestration and vocal harmonies that roll thru the songs like that huge snowball did in Willow.
Surprisingly, the total amount of lyrical lecture consisting of paraphrasings of Angry Brigade/King Mob sloganeering doesn’t outweigh the musical punch.
And while the layered girl vocals teeter close to B-52’s territory, the pounding drums and distorted roar of lead bass remind you this is rock-yer-ass rock.
Just can’t get over the bored smugness. Jangly guitar preening effortlessly to oblivion, lyrics about things I’m either not cool or stoned enough to understand.
Sticking by their “unity” ideology, light-hearted melodic tendencies, and overall fun/energetic vibe, their records have been getting better and better.
The crime of “Teenage FBI,” and others on Do the Collapse, is taking a potentially good small idea and blowing it up into a textured, multi-tracked spectacle.
Despite my admiration for their work ethic, persistence, endurance, and outspoken philosophy, I just can’t get into their every-suburban town style of punk.