The Arrivals

The Arrivals: Volatile MolotovVolatile Molotov (2010)
Recess Records

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: crackpotdemagoguecrackpotdemagogue
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Published on December 3rd 2010It was three years ago that the Arrivals released their last album, Marvels of Industry. One of 2007's highlights, it was a release that solidified the band's status as a true hidden gem of American punk rock. Having returned to relative obscurity after Marvels, though, the band has finally reappear.

It was three years ago that the Arrivals released their last album, Marvels of Industry. One of 2007's highlights, it was a release that solidified the band's status as a true hidden gem of American punk rock. Having returned to relative obscurity after Marvels, though, the band has finally reappeared. Again springing from nowhere with a set of songs that surpass anything being offered by most of their contemporaries, this time the Arrivals have upped the ante even further. New LP Volatile Molotov is, at the very least, a late contender for album of the year.

From explosive opener "Two Years," the pace is relentless and the quality unwavering. The melodies spring from every corner of the album--the riffs, the solos, the harmonies--while the vocal hooks alone are simply outstanding. Some bands spend decades trying to write a song like "Blank Slate," but the Arrivals seem to have them stockpiled.

The best thing about Volatile Molotov is that it manages to get all the ingredients just right. The band has perfectly combined the anger and the energy of punk rock with the melody of power-pop. The end result is a brilliant bastard broth of everything from Hüsker Dü and the Clash to Naked Raygun and Dillinger Four.

The lyrics are undoubtedly what blend it all together. Crammed with a sense of disillusion and powerlessness, they reflect so acutely contemporary liberalism's existential crisis. Apocalyptic but also hopeful, cynical yet optimistic, Volatile Molotov is the soundtrack to a broken America; it is an elegy for the shattered vision of Obama's new tomorrow.

Tracks like "The Last Testament," "Frontline" and "New Gold Standard" deserve a place on the Congressional Record, yet they will probably drift like a wind above the heads of everyone but a small handful of punk rock fanatics. A work of true art in an age of artlessness, Volatile Molotov belongs in every record collection: buy it and tell your friends to do the same. You'll be doing humanity a service.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

randomd (December 8, 2010)

so so good, one of my favourite openers in a long time too.

hobbzoid (December 6, 2010)

perfect record.

Indecay (December 6, 2010)

I like this a lot.

damnitsderek (December 5, 2010)

This is really, really good. The instrumentals are excellent enough by themselves.

DarrenMcLeod (December 5, 2010)

Definitely one of my favourites of the year. "Frontline" kills it.

blanktapesemptybottles (December 4, 2010)

simple pleasures in america is a great song, best way to end the album, love the optimism

ughlee (December 3, 2010)

Definitely in the top three of the year. And pparently unlike everyone else, I'm not all that in love with "Simple Pleasures in America" - I can't tell if they're joking or not. I guess maybe that's the point?. "The Power Won't Be Staying On For Long" has yet to be mentioned by anyone. Shit's amazing.

BertRacoon (December 3, 2010)

I've been wanting to make a comment for a while on how this was released and no one at the org seemed to notice. The org should going nuts over this band and this album, and I'm glad to see them finally getting some love with this review and the comments so far.
A month after getting this and I can still listen to 'Simple Pleasures in America' over and over again on repeat.

Misanthropee (December 3, 2010)

Absolutely killer album. I love this band.

Rastid (December 3, 2010)

wow, i thought this album was pretty decent, but i obviously did not have the reaction that most here did....

Sliced-T (December 3, 2010)

Perfect follow up to Marvels of the Industry. Flawless release.

encorp (December 3, 2010)

Jesus Christ. My Top albums for this year are all, in their own right, some of the best records I've heard in my entire life.

This just made it up there.

NotPatriotic (December 3, 2010)

Simple Pleasures in America is probably my favorite song of the year. Fucking amazing song!

Half_Idiot (December 3, 2010)

No mention of how absolutely god-like "Simple Pleasures In America" is?

This band can do no wrong; never has, never will.

notfeelingcreative (December 3, 2010)

Favorite record of the year, so far.

LinoleumMagazine (December 3, 2010)

This album is fucking awesome. One of the best releases of the year fo sho! I'm really glad it go a review so we can get it on the year end list.

slymer (December 3, 2010)

The two songs I heard off of this sounded great. I ordered this sucker last night.