Album Review

The Menzingers – Rented World

• 21st Apr 2014

Following the acclaim that came with On The Impossible Past, The Menzingers had a lot of weight on their shoulders with regards to their next effort. Thankfully, and as many have expected, Rented World lives up to expectations. It solidifies the band as no longer being the ones to watch, but the ones to emulate.

It kicks off with the guitar driven ‘I Don’t Want To Be An Asshole Anymore’, which the title suggests is as frank as you’ll hear this band. Lead vocalist Greg Barnett leads the fray, as his band members pipe in during the chorus, providing backing vocals as Barnett pleads to the object of his affection “I’ll be good to you”. He knows the goodness that can come with bleeding, but knows that with the pleasure comes the pain.

Following is ‘Bad Things’, a homage to ‘Good Things’ from their previous record, which leads into ‘Rodent’. One of the best tracks on the record, it explodes in that unique Menzingers way, and has some of the most memorable lyrics (“So burn the fucker down / I don’t care”) before the guys end the track screaming “I am only bad news / for you” repeatedly, almost until you believe it to be so.

‘Where Your Heartache Exists’ is a self deprecating song, almost continuing the end of ‘Rodent’ – “I know where your heartache exists / it’s when you’re alone and when you’re around me”, again channelling that bad news vibe. Indeed, this theme is prevalent throughout the album.

Just look at lead single ‘In Remission’, where Barnett and co-vocalist Tom May really do drive home this idea of being fruitless with the refrain “If everyone needs a crutch / Then I need a wheelchair”. Even the music provided enhances this feeling, like the opening of ‘Transient Love’.

It starts with Joe Godino pounding the drums in a way which sound like a sad teenager might. This is soon followed by Eric Keen’s walking bass line. But, while these themes are prevalent throughout the record, it’s not a sad album. Celebrating sadness is key here, otherwise it wouldn’t work. But it does, just as The Menzingers are capable of.

Indeed, ‘Transient Love’ is another near perfect song on Rented World. It’s tough to pick out which ones you should pay most attention to, as all 12 require your utmost. Otherwise, you’re not giving Rented World what it deserves.

‘The Talk’ is a quick fire track, closest to their early material. Short, fast, punk and to the point. ‘Nothing Feels Good Anymore’, by comparison, sounds like it could have been lifted from On The Impossible Past. But the entire album is still a step forward from what we’ve heard from the band in the past.

Album closer ‘When You Died’ then strips everything back, an acoustic ballad asking for Barnett to be on stage with only a guitar and a spotlight. As the title suggests, it does keep the theme running through the album to the very end – but the song itself tells a story. Barnett is a poet in this instance, and one of the best.

When Rented World ends, you wonder where the time went. 43 minutes will never seem so fast. It’s testament to the punks from Pennsylvania. But no need to worry, just have it on repeat and don’t worry about what the lyrics throughout the record might leave you to believe. You’ll enjoy it more than you know.

Download: Transient Love, Rodent, The Talk, In Remission

Venue: Rented World
Support Band: Epitaph Records