Millencolin
Goofy

Perhaps you are wondering why I chose to review this demo completely unknown to most, as even the band itself is not really... ahem, noticed by anyone on the site.

Well, I decided to talk about the band's very first steps and analyze everything, because it's always interesting to see how things were back then, for them specifically, but the discussion extends more generally to any band at its beginnings to understand how it evolved and reached today.

Year 1992, a year already curious in itself in which precisely Sweden (the homeland of our subjects) went on to win the European Football Championship in cold and nearby Denmark against all odds. By the way, does Greece in 2004 ring a bell?!

Another noteworthy fact from that year is the formation of Millencolin in Orebro, with Nikola Sarkevic on vocals, Mathias on guitar, Erik on the other six strings, and Larzon on drums (who will join a few months later and in this demo is temporarily replaced by Mathias on drums).

Soon after forming, they produced their first demo, which would later be sent to their future label Burning Heart Record, titled "Goofy". The style is the punk rock/hardcore that will characterize the combo in the years to come, with the substantial difference here being the unavoidable limitations in terms of production and sound clarity. The very dirty and raw sound of the rhythm section and guitars immediately clarifies the idea. But this is quite normal for a band still looking for a label to manage everything.

This Demo - EP contains 8 tracks, notably the two openers "Pain" and "Flipping Beans" which were later taken up by Millencolin in subsequent works and perhaps the best tracks of the work, namely the fast-paced and driven "Above My Head" and the equally notable "A Weak", both with some slight ska inclinations in between and raw, simple garage-style solos.

It must be said that in this "first" trial, you can glimpse that sound, still seminal and naive, which will go on to characterize the band's subsequent consolidated style that will find expression and fulfillment starting with the debut album "Same Old Tunes".

If you're a fan of the group, it's certainly worth giving it a listen, but if you're not familiar with them, you should first listen to the true albums from the Melancholy repertoire.