The political punk rock fossils are still very much themselves.
When, if not now, has there ever been so much to denounce? Time for Green Day, who, when it comes to shaming, have a lot of catching up to do since 2020, when the rather strange FATHER OF ALL MOTHERFUCKERS was released. So now SAVIORS, the whopping 14th album by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool. This is less 90s East Bay punk, but has more of the newer, less hectic signature Green Day style since REVOLUTION RADIO (2016). Which also means: lots of power chords, drums like pistol shots, more politics, more complaining and a lot of hatred of America.
“We’re all together and we’re living in the twenties / Salutations on another era / My condolences / Ain’t that a kick in the head?” asks Armstrong, but despite all the irony he also becomes emotional when he says it complains about the new times: “Will I ever see your face again? / Not just photos from an Instagram”. In “Strange Days” the constant crisis is generally ticked off: “And Jesus gonna quit his job / He promised us forever / But we got less”. With Green Day everything revolves around the now, the three punk fossils are probably the most successful US band that still dares to take a clear political stand. This perseverance alone has to be admired after 35 years.