30 years after the release of their first album, Chicago melodic punk band Sludgeworth return with their 2nd LP, Second Time Around. According to their Bandcamp bio, this is a culmination of both a reunion from Riot Fest and weekly booze-filled jam sessions.
What they present to us is a new collection of melodic punk rock songs to get you headbanging and remembering the good old days. It may have just been a natural result from multiple hangouts, but there is very noticeable attention given to the creation of Second Time Around that has very clear messages that go beyond being an old punk band.
Ultimately, it is a personal album for the band. The core themes from this album include reminiscing and offering advice for their younger selves (“Can’t Change Yesterday”, “Hurry Up, I Don’t Have Forever”). It does also address the present and the uncertainties of the nation in songs such as “Simulation” and “Tipping Point”.
Second Time Around also features some really great guitar riffs, standout beats, and clean vocals. It’s very well an album that could’ve been released in the early 90s if the band stuck around, sharing the same melodic punk sounds as No Use For A Name and Propagandhi.
Overall, this is a fantastic melodic punk album that sounds like it’s from the 90s punk era. Despite a 3-decade time skip, Sludgeworth has aged finely and proves that older punk bands can still put out absolute bangers. So hit up an old friend, grab a beer, and laugh about the past, because Second Time Around is meant just for that.
Favorite songs: “Hold Steady”, “Our Better Angels”, “Trouble Brewing”
“Second Time Around” by Sludgeworth is available for purchase on Bandcamp.