Goldfinger

Never Look Back

Written by: MAK on 10/12/2020 20:26:00

These days, John Feldman is mostly known as a producer, working with established acts such as Blink 182, The Used and Fever 333 just to name a few. Considering there was a nine-year gap between 2008’s “Hello Destiny” and 2017’s “The Knife”, it shows where his priorities have been for the best part of the last decade. However, focusing back with Goldfinger, “Never Look Back” picks up where “The Knife” left off for Feldman to revisit writing fun-fuelled pop-punk tracks, piggybacking off the popularity that has been the rerecorded classics such as “Here In Your Bedroom” and ”99 Red Balloons, all recorded in separate locations due to lockdown situations. Perhaps the timing seems just right following the remaster of Tony Hawks Pro Skater, the computer game that sparked brand new popularity for Goldfinger with the hit “Superman”. A lot of this feels very ‘opportunist’ at best.

Much like “The Knife” did, “Never Look Back” feels like a massive play for Feldman to revisit his “Golden Days”. In fact, there is a song that is titled just about that, in which he sings about those times while ripping off the melody from Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle” in the chorus along the way. From this track alone it doesn’t feel like much of a progression from the last album, still pining on nostalgia. The irony on an album that is titled “Never Look Back” must be lost, considering pretty much this entire album looks back on Goldfinger’s career in writing a mixture of upbeat pop-punk and ska-punk songs.

I’ll praise Feldman for his ability to write catchy as hell choruses, from the start we get this with “Infinite”, a punchy opener that leans towards poppy and uplifting skate-punk influences with thunderous beats and fast distorted riffs. It sets the album off with a bang, which is immediately toned down with the third wave ska-fuelled “The City”, laden with big brass hooks, chilled upstrokes and steady rhythms topped off by a big pop-punk singy chorus that would suit the work he did with Blink 182. “Wallflower” comes in with a bit more of the panache that suits modern ska-punk acts, with up-tempo beats, brass melodies and punchy lyricism. I know I’ve heard UK upstarts Just Say Nay write an almost identical song and probably do a better job with it. “California On My Mind” touches more to the reggae side of things, more chilled vibes, letting melodies shine more.

One thing I’ve been waiting for is the angst we once saw on “Open Your Eyes”, and we are treated to that with the fiery blast that is “Nothing To Me” Chaotic drums lead a charge, finally letting new drummer Nick Gross loose to show us his talents behind crunchier hooks and vulgar lyricism of “FUCK YOU, FUCK THAT”. The track may pack a punch, but the catchy vibes take away from the aggression I was truly hoping for, it’s a decent fast punk track, but a tad watered down overall. “Cannonball” similarly builds promise as an all-out edgy punk-rock track, crammed with fuzzy riffs and tenacious beats, but the chorus softens down the track somewhat while the verse and bridge pack a bit more of a punch. “Careful What You Wish For” is another ear pricker of a track, throwing yet another nod to modern pop-punk, featuring Save Ferris’ Monique Powell for an ever so up beat chirpy anthem with big singalong hooks, with closing track “Standing On The Beach” following an almost identical formula in sounding more like the modern pop-punk bands he has produced than his own work with Goldfinger.

Maybe nit-picking these tracks is harsh. These aren’t bad songs, some are rather enjoyable. In spite of minor grievances, “Wallflower” and “Nothing To Me” are pure bangers that I’ll likely stick on playlists for years to come. My main gripe is that for a new album, it feels mildly dated, in a plea to make their 90s to 00s sound more relevant, but at the same time ripping modern influences from an overly saturated genre just makes you sound exactly like everyone else. The combination doesn’t feel fresh, or natural, more of a timely cash grab while certain classics are getting fresher listens. I think “Never Look Back” will appeal more to new fans than it will to those of old, ones that aren’t playing the comparison game with a band that is far beyond it’s prime.

6

Download: Wallflower, Nothing To Me, Cannonball
For The Fans Of: Blink 182, MxPx, Reel Big Fish
Listen: Facebook

Release date 04.12.2020
Big Noise

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