The echoing piano melody that opens
Pennywise's 1993 effort,
Unknown Road, suggests a more thoughtful side to a band known more for raw energy and aggression than introspection. The almost melancholy intro barely winds down before
Pennywise launches full-bore into the title track with simultaneous fury and accuracy.
Pennywise hits a new level of controlled chaos on
Unknown Road with a finely tuned, tightly wound musical attack.
Jim Lindberg's caffeine-fueled, angst-ridden diatribes on lost time and personal responsibility mesh seamlessly with
Fletcher Dragge's fiercely visceral yet melodic guitar crunch. Scorching personal anthems like
"It's Up to Me" and
"You Can Demand" showcase the concept of the D.I.Y. ideal that has been alive and kicking since the inception of
punk.
Pennywise began recording
Unknown Road in the absence of
Jim Lindberg, with bassist
Jason Thirsk attempting to fill the gap on vocals.
Thirsk's bass teacher,
Randy Bradbury, took over bass duties for the majority of the recording. (
Bradbury also took over
Thirsk's spot in
Pennywise after the founding member's death in 1996.)
Lindberg rejoined
Pennywise midway through the recording of
Unknown Road, enabling the completion of the album and the continuation of the band.
Bradbury and
Thirsk, along with drummer
Byron McMackin, frame
Dragge's speed-freak guitar riot and
Lindberg's drill-sergeant delivery with adept skill and inventive musical craftsmanship. They add high-test fuel to the fire of
Dragge's screaming riffs and unflinchingly accommodate dizzying time changes. The band hits their collective stride on
"Time to Burn" and
"Dying to Know," combining their musical prowess and intensity with forceful personal messages.
Pennywise continue to reinforce their dedication to their ferociously loyal fan base, inspiring their listeners to embrace life from an enthusiastic perspective. Their message of optimism, however, is tempered with a stern dose of reality. While these are somewhat common themes in more insightful
punk and
hardcore, they are rarely as well-crafted and delivered. Their coiled aural assault provides a dynamic tension that aptly punctuates the ideas within the songs.
Unknown Road is an inspired effort by the reunited and recharged
Pennywise, and is the first consistently solid release of their career. [This version of the album includes bonus material.] ~ Paul Henderson
