From the dimly lit dive bars of Scranton, Pennsylvania, to the bright stages of the punk rock scene at large, The Menzingers have been a staple of heartfelt storytelling and raucous melodies for over a decade.
With their latest album, “Some Of It Was True,” they take us on a journey through the highs and lows of adulthood, all the while clinging to the nostalgic threads of youth that so often color our present.
Since 2006, Greg Barnett and Tom May’s vocal and guitar harmonies, Eric Keen’s steadfast basslines, and Joe Godino’s rhythmic drumbeats have evolved, yet remained loyal to the raw energy that first ignited their music. The Menzingers’ sound has been refined over a decade and a half, echoing through eight studio albums, with “Some Of It Was True” being their most spirited and direct work to date.
The album, produced with the brilliance of Brad Cook and recorded within the walls of Sonic Ranch studios, reflects everything the Menzingers are as a band. It’s a collection that bleeds with the vigor of punk rock while painting reflective strokes of Springsteen-esque Americana, Tom Petty’s heartland rock, and the introspective soul of indie rock.
The Menzingers have not aged; they’ve matured, carrying the lessons of their years into a sound that resonates with both the youthfulness of their past and the wisdom of their present.
From the opening chords of “Hope Is a Dangerous Little Thing,” the album sets a tone of grappling with the angst of the known and the uncertainty of what’s to come. The record tells stories of bittersweet angst, unrequited love, and the persistent pull of teenage nostalgia—a nod to the inevitable growth and the aches it brings. Yet, even with its moments of cliché, “Some Of It Was True” never loses its edge or authenticity.
“Songs like ‘Come On, Heartache’ and ‘Nobody Stays’ are as catchy as they are reflective, proving The Menzingers can craft an anthem that feels at home in a stadium as much as in a dimly lit bar.
The band’s gift for capturing life’s transitions is evident throughout their discography, from the raw declaration of their debut album, “A Lesson in the Abuse of Information Technology,” to the acoustic introspection in “From Exile.” Each album serves as a mile marker, not just in the band’s timeline, but in the lives of those who have found solace and understanding within their lyrics. Tracks like “Gates” and “Farewell Youth” have become part of the soundtrack to countless fans’ own stories of growth and change.
The Menzingers’ artistry lies in their ability to narrate the ordinary and make it extraordinary, to elevate the personal to the universal. Their discography captures the feelings of a generation facing adulthood in a world that often seems unforgiving. “Toy Soldier” is a bitter homage to lost friends, while “In Remission” battles with the shadow of addiction, and “Mexican Guitars” resonates with the longing to escape a world that has lost its luster.
In the end, The Menzingers are not just punk rockers; they are poets, telling poems about the human condition, singing every verse with the grit and grace that life deserves. With “Some Of It Was True,” they affirm that their story, much like punk rock itself, isn’t about the resistance of growth but the embracement of it.
“Some Of It Was True” is The Menzingers’ rally cry to the aging punk rocker in all of us—the rebels, the dreamers, and those of us staring down the barrel of adulthood, wondering where the time went. It’s proof that while the calendar pages may flip, the passion that fuels us can stay ignited through every chord and chorus and that even though we might at some point need to grow up that doesn’t mean we need to grow old.
