Rancid – Honor Is All We Know

Over time everything becomes jaded (just ask Bob Dylan), yet Rancid has been on a streak of 8 spectacular albums in a row. For me, they are the archetype of contemporary American punk. Honor Is All We Know is an awesome album with 14 tracks spanned over 31 minutes.

Tim Armstrong is a fantastic story-teller with his definitive punk drawl. His Epiphone guitar riffs tell incredible tales themselves. In my opinion Matt Freeman is the greatest bassist alive. It would have been nice if he sang a song on the record. Branden Steineckert is their current drummer since the departure of Brett Reed in 2009. Branden recorded drums on Let the Dominoes Fall, which signified the new era of Rancid.

Tim and Matt previously played in Operation Ivy. Matt's side project is called the Devil's Brigade, with an awesome release in 2010. Lars Frederickson's side-project The Old Firm Casuals released This is War earlier this year, and it is a spectacular punk album.

As it has been 5 years since the previous album, the first song Back Where I Belong is very applicable to their style and contemporary stance. On Raise Your Fist, Lars provides alternating vocals through numerous anthems. Collision Course is a mix of skater punk and ska without a brass-section.

The song Evil's My Friend has amazing synth riffs. Honor Is All We Know starts with joyous guitar riffs with Tim's voice drawling the verses. A Power Inside is a positive punk melody, also emphasizing Tim's drawling voice. The song In The Streets contains cheery harmonies on the vocals. Face Up is the shortest song on the album, for me it is similar to the song Roots and Radicals.

Already Dead is my favorite song on the album. It is a damn catchy song with Lars excelling on vocals. It sounds like a song from Lars Frederickson and The Bastards, but with a Rancid polish. The song has profound lyrics such as "I am the bastard son of Christ, and I'll see you all in hell, 'cause I'm already dead". The song Diabolical starts with a pounding bass-drum. It is catchy dance music with a junky punk feel.

Malfunction contains awesome alternating vocals. Now We're Through With You is a euphoric punk song, quickening in pace throughout the song. Everybody's Sufferin' presents depressing lyrics such as "Everywhere you are going, people they are so fucked. Everybody's Sufferin'" in upbeat tones. Grave Digger is a very lively song to end the album. It contains fast-paced, heavy vocals and distorted guitars along with walking bass lines.

Since 2004 when I first heard …And Out Come The Wolves I became a super-fan of Rancid. I vouch my respect to this band until death.