Rational Anthem – Its Only Permanent

Mark Cartwright posted 27th October 2019
Reviews

Rational Anthem

It's Only Permanent - A-F Records

3 piece Pop Punk band Rational Anthem originally from the east coast state of Florida, now residing in Iowa with a west coast feel to there no apologies style of music.

Are set to release their 4th album “Its Only Permanent”, their 1st album was released back in 2012 “Sensitivity Training” brought them to the fore and set them on course to gain a fan base that has stuck with them.

Out Nov 1st on A-F Records. “It’s Only Permanent” fills an area of genre that has the likes of Alkaline Trio, New Found Glory and Simple Plan in its ranks, Rational Anthem have brought there own slant to the mix over the years and have no apologies for having thrown out a succession of albums and EP’s that quite frankly do exactly what it says on the tin. This album is filled with no holds barred power pop/punk, but quite frankly has evolved in so much as they have now honed there skills and topped the production level for this offering the album kicks off with “Welcome To Paradise City” not in any way to be confused with said Axle Rose’s offering of a similar name, instead your given a fast and furious start that kinda spring boards the whole album. As eluded to earlier, this albums production level hits a height that maybe was missed on previous offerings or is it simply that this package of songs were just crying out to be thrown out into the world with such a standard.

Well either way the songs come at you with so much more power and conviction, “Let It Go” with its acoustic intro that leads into a guitar packed blast of Punk which pulls you straight into a highlight of the album “Unimaginary Girlfriend” as perfect a melodic pop punk song as you could possibly of wished you might have written yourself, with its choppy moving on relentless drum sections and chorus that has you tapping away and yep even nodding away just like the local headbanger of the SlipKnot variety, but with a song that’s seems to be about the age old problem of can I actually be in a relationship even with the emotional baggage of childhood, oh yeah of course you can! Its all about finding the right person, so yeah lyrics with meaning too!

You get the feel that this album seems to be dealing with growing up issues and puts them neatly into very strong surroundings, every track seems to get a message across both in musical terms with powerful guitar/bass delivered at breakneck speed without any compromise, a drumming masterclass in this genre which leaves the vocal to be delivered with a whole stack of soul and sincerity and 100% power!

Ending with “Through Being Punk” with the words “by the time I hit 30 this body might be broke” well after you have thrashed your way through this album then you might be left feeling have I burnt out and will this body be broken enough to have reached its punk pinnacle and is it time to hang up the safety pin trousers, drained and blown out.

All In all, if this package of songs moves forward from Rational Anthems previous offerings it’s in both lyrical content and musical ability. So whether they are burnt out by 30 or not, its been a ride worth getting on.