It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since No Trigger released a full-length record. In the decade that’s passed, the band appeared to be cooking up just the right combination of punk-flavored hooks paired with a more melodic approach to the groove of their songs to make one of their most memorable records to date on Dr. Album. This six-piece punk band will be touring in support of the new record with The Lawrence Arms, Riot Fest, and more to spread the message of this great-sounding album that has a little bit of something for everyone. The band shared they were trying to create, “the Sgt. Pepper of punk records. We took a bunch of drugs and made this record while the world stopped. It sort of just poured out of us. A ‘had to get it all out’ sort of scenario.” Out of this experiment, No Trigger have proved that the world needs more punk bands like this.
Kicking off the set with “Antifantasy,” No Trigger blasts off with some NOFX-inspired punk rock energy paired with some witty lyrics about the state of the world we live in. The band gets back to their hardcore roots on the mosh pit anthem, “Take Your Time,” but still leave a little bit of space for melodic breakdowns. Things continue down that same path of more aggressive punk rock songs with “Acid Lord,” whereas my personal favorite, “Too High To Die” starts off with an acoustic guitar before gradually adding in some synths and the full band for a great mid-tempo anthem.
Lead single, “No Tattoos,” is a good encapsulation of the sound the band went for on Dr. Album and features plenty of tongue-in-cheek lyrics sandwiched into a one-minute jam. “Brainwashed” reminded a lot of early Goldfinger with some of its ska elements, like some well-placed horns and ska chords in the middle of the song that allows for No Trigger to hit their intended target. Even an occasional ballad like “Water by the Beer Can” never distract from the ultimate goal of No Trigger to create a record that showcases their improved songwriting and willingness to not take themselves too seriously.
The closing duo of “Best Friend Stuff,” which rocks with an 80’s pop sheen over it, paired with the final shotgun blast of punk rock energy in “Totally Digital” reminds me a bit of a combination of Motion City Soundtrack with the politically charged punk rock music of Anti-Flag. Overall, there really is a little bit of everything sprinkled into Dr. Album in a way that anyone who’s a fan of the bands I name-dropped here will be able to take away something from this record. After a decade of staying away from the music scene, it’s great to have a new No Trigger album, and it’s just what the doctor ordered.