Album Review: Authority Zero – Persona Non Grata

The long-running Arizona based melodic punk act Authority Zero have released their new album, Persona Non Grata, this weekend. The band’s latest full length represents a move back towards their roots as this is their first studio self-release since their debut EP, Patches in Time, that was unleashed over seventeen years ago. Persona Non Grata condenses everything you love about Authority Zero into twelve tracks that flash past in just over half an hour, with their return to their DIY punk roots they have released an album that is a near perfect snap shot of the last two decades.

Blind Eye kicks Persona Non Grata into life with an anthemic and energetic blast of ska punk, a theme they regularly revisit throughout the album with tracks like the hard edged Atom Bomb, the infectious Ah Hell and the skanking Back From The Dead. At the mid way point Authority Zero dip their into reggae on Shake The Ground, a track that provides some welcome respite and brings the pace down for a few minutes, before they launch themselves back into full tilt punk rock with the hardcore rage of Mush Mouth, a track that, along with the melodic hardcore of Derailed, brings a harder edge to Authority Zero‘s latest full length.

But for me Authority Zero are at their best when they’re delivering upbeat heartfelt catchy punk rock, and there’s no better example of this than the album’s title track, along with the feel good poppy punk of The Bright Side, the driven On The Outside and my two personal highlights, that close Persona Non Grata, Damage Control and Rights This Way. With their seventh studio album Authority Zero have followed up on last years impressive full length, Broadcasting To The Nations, and they have self released an album that indicates that despite being together for almost two decades they are still a force to be reckoned with.

Persona Non Grata can now be streamed and purchased here

Authority Zero‘s website can be found here