CIVIC, arguably one of the two or three greatest punk rock bands of this decade, has now staked its claim as one of the best bands out there, period. Following the blistering brilliance of 2021's Future Forecast and 2023's Taken By Force, CIVIC's new album Chrome Dipped finds the band turning away from its signature '70s Aussie punk style and forging a bold new sound. Of course there were hints of a musical progression on those previous albums. But as the title implies, Chrome Dipped finds CIVIC completely breaking the mold. Call it post-punk, modern rock, modern punk, or whatever you like. This band and this album cannot be tied to any specific genre.
A lot of folks may find the musical growth between Taken By Force and Chrome Dipped almost shocking. But certainly CIVIC is far from the first punk band to evolve into something very different. Whether or not that transition is successful is almost always dependent on the talent and artistic vision of the band. In the case of CIVIC, it's clear that these guys have what it takes to be something far more than a sonic bulldozer. The songwriting and playing on Chrome Dipped are formidable. While still holding on to the spirit of punk rock, the band really pushes itself on this record to sound not only like it has never sounded before but also like no other band has sounded before. And even though '80s post-punk is a clear point of reference, few specific influences are palpable. If this is a "post-punk" record, it's the 21st century version of such. By turns, this album is hard & soft, beautiful & gloomy, and fierce & elegant. It was always the nuances of its songwriting that set CIVIC apart from all the other Saints/Birdman disciples. So while Chrome Dipped is indeed a giant step forward, it's not an illogical progression. Even with a drastically modernized sound, CIVIC is still an incredible band. Will this album alienate a small percentage of fans? Perhaps. Will it garner the band a whole lot of new fans? Of course! Chrome Dipped will not be for everyone, and of course it's closer to say, The Damned, than it is to The Saints. But it's a monster of a record that will really sink its hooks into you after a few spins.
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I'm one of those fans that stopped buying Civic albums with Chrome Dipped. It's fine. It's smart. I just miss the fire and there's more smoulder than flame in this one.
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