Album Review: Kill Lincoln – Can’t Complain

“Can’t Complain“, the long-awaited new album from DC ska-punks Kill Lincoln that is now available worldwide via Bad Time Records stateside, 1138 Records in Japan and through the UK’s Pookout Records. The band blends no-bullshit ska-punk with skate punk, pop punk and addictive rock anthems that iare delivered with the energy of a basement hardcore show. “Can’t Complain“ follows up on the band’s last full length, 2013’s “That’s Cool… In A Totally Negative And Destructive Way“, and stays true to path that their sophomore album set them on. If you’re an established fan then just go get yourself a copy as you won’t be disappointed, if you’ve not encountered Kill Lincoln before then you’re in the same boat as I was about an hour ago.

A squall of feedback welcomes you into “Can’t Complain” with ‘Greetings From Inner Space‘, all the breakdowns, horns and ska punk staples you could wish for are present and correct, this is swiftly followed up by the manic skank of ‘Used Up‘. ‘Last Ditch Denial‘ keeps the energy levels in the red, just as you’re settling into a ska punk rhythm you are hit by ‘Ignorance Is Bliss‘, a track that balances a heavier more intense element with the manic ska. ‘Who Am I This Time?‘ returns to familiar territory before you are hit with the manic ska tinged pop punk of ‘Confession Obsession‘ and ‘Well Spent; Wasted‘. ‘Civil Surgery‘ sees a return to the familiar before you’re hit with the ska-core of the topical ‘Quarantine Dream‘ and 80 second blast of ‘Womb Envy‘. “Can’t Complain” finally closes with the intense title track that wraps up the album by throwing everything that came before into the mix.

Kill Lincoln have the origins of ska punk running through their DNA, all the hallmarks you have come to know and love over the years are present and correct, but this is not done exclusively by the playbook, something that stops “Can’t Complain” being a predictable album of ska punk by the numbers. It can’t be denied that that are elements of the classic ska punk sound running throughout the album, but these are blended with other elements from the punk world to create an album that offers enough surprises to convince you that ska punk is alive and well. “Can’t Complain” is an apt title for an album, as after playing it you don’t really have any complaints, if you love ska punk then this should be on your playlist or nestling in your collection, Kill Lincoln, along with bands such as Half Past Two and Bite Me Bambi, represent part of a fresh wave of ska punk bands that have made it officially OK to like ska-punk again.

“Can’t Complain” can be streamed and purchased here