The Offspring is back with another true-to-form Punk Rock collection that perfectly bends their deeply familiar rapid-fire style and sarcastic wit-filled lyrics on a handful of fresh tracks. Their eleventh album, Supercharged, arriving on October 11, 2024 via Concord Records, is a powerhouse collective sure to amp you up and reignite a desire to cause chaos.
However, before we dive into the new music, let us take a quick look back at this storied band. Hailing from Garden Grove, California, they formed in 1984, under the name Manic Subsidal. Changing their name to The Offspring (after a B-movie called The Offspring: They Were Born to Kill) in 1986, the rest is history. After the name change they released their first single “I’ll Be Waiting” which got the attention of Nemesis Records… the first of many to sign the talented crew. Over their four-decade career, the band has been associated with Epitaph Records, Nitro Records, Columbia Records, and most recently Concord Records.
Many casual listeners are familiar with the hit “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid,” off the 2008 album Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace, which was recently added to Spotify’s Billions Club. However, there are handful upon handful of hits and unsuspecting exceptional tracks across their discography. “Self-Esteem” (off 1994’s Smash) “Why Don’t You Get a Job” (from 1998’s Americana) and “The Future Is Now” (off 2012’s Days Go By) are just a few of the memorable and iconic sounds they have created. In all, The Offspring has sold more than 40 million records, as a result, making them one of the best-selling Punk Rock bands of all time.
With their current lineup of Lead Vocalist/Rhythm Guitarist Bryan “Dexter” Holland, Lead Guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman, Bassist Todd Morse, Multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy, and Drummer Brandon Pertzborn, the announcement of Supercharged emerged during a Brazilian press conference back in 2022. Very fitting, one of the three singles released before the album is “Come To Brazil.” This seems to be a sort of love song to the Brazilian fanbase. Based on the lyrics, it appears the band recognizes those fans who know how to bring the energy and crowd participation up to the top level when The Offspring comes to town.
Looking at the singles more, “Make It All Right” is another pre-album released, which included an animated music video. Rising quickly to #1 on the Alternative Airplay Chart and the Billboard Alternative Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart, it certainly raised excitement among listeners. There is also the single “Light It Up,” which if were to be mixed into a playlist of other The Offspring hits, would immediately belong and fit naturally.
With all of this in mind, much of Supercharged may feel similar to recent albums like 2021’s Let The Bad Times Roll, with cleaner mixes and fewer raw vocals, but the stylistic choices still scream the classic sounds of 1994’s Smash. For example, a track like “Hanging By A Thread” also brings familiar pacing with fresh solos making it a standout in a unique way.
In preparation for the release on October 11th, The Offspring’s official website has gotten a makeover complete with a fun interactive cursor in the style of the upcoming album cover. The Offspring’s passion for performing and for their fans shines through on each of the ten tracks that make up Supercharged. They are often credited as one of the groups responsible for reigniting a mainstream interest in Punk through the ’90s for a reason, and it is still apparent today. For all of this Cryptic Rock gives Supercharged 4 out of 5 stars.
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