Faster and Louder: The Dahlmanns

On this first day of meteorological spring, The Dahlmanns have birthed something fresh and beautiful. Life in Reverse is their first full-length album in more than 14 years. It's part of a brilliant second act for one of my favorite bands. For nearly a month, I've been walking around like a grinning child who's fighting valiantly to hold on to a secret. I could not wait to write about this album! Now release day has arrived. The O.G. of punk rock zine bards has already weighed in, and I am delighted to spread the gospel!

The title Life in Reverse is shared with one of the songs on the album, but at a deeper level it reflects the theme of this LP. Andre and Line Dahlmann, joined by Magnus Gulbrandsen on guitar; Jan-Erik Hoel on bass; and Ole S. Nesset on drums, have taken a deep dive into all the music they've loved from their teen years to present day. If the last album, 2011's All Dahled Up, was a quintessential example of power pop by way of the Ramones, Life in Reverse is something else entirely. It's not quite what you were expecting from The Dahlmanns, yet it sounds absolutely like The Dahlmanns. This is music full of melody and life, and Line's voice has never sounded better. Having covered everyone from ABBA to Men Without Hats to Sylvain Sylvain to Suzi Quatro to Katrina and the Waves over the years, Andre and Line had already made it clear that their musical influences transcended one specific genre. And so Life in Reverse feels like a logical progression in The Dahlmanns' oeuvre. While certainly not a "power pop" record per se, it's a shining example of what great pop music ought to be.

Kicking off with the 1-2 punch of last year's singles "Leatherboys" and "Dark Side with You," Life in Reverse quickly establishes itself as something quite different from The Dahlmanns. The former is a Detroit-inspired rocker that brings plenty of sleaze and stomp; the latter channels the spirit of Roky Erickson. From there, Side 1 of the album unfolds in a very pop-leaning way. "What's Inside a Mind" exudes gorgeous melancholy and chilly day sunshine. It's truly a perfect pop song. "Sandalwood" is pristine guitar pop operating at full maturity. The gentle "In the Dark" brings more laidback vibes, and then "Ride On" is the album's token shot of power pop by the book. After easing you into their evolved musical approach, The Dahlmanns really let their hair down on Side 2. On the scorching "From the Universe," the band flashes the action rock moves that are practically its birthright. "The Golden One" is full-on modern rock — a song that's moody and haunting yet undeniably powerful. The stunning title track is '80s-ish synth-pop with a modern Nordic indie pop twist. "Fire Fades" feels the like '90s with its bittersweet, heart-on-sleeve jangle. The extraordinary album closer "Old Ghosts Say" is all warm '70s breeze and sun-kissed melody — "A fjord twist on Laurel Canyon," as the venerable Mr. Hutton puts it.

My personal history of writing about The Dahlmanns dates back nearly 15 years. This is my 14th occasion writing about this band, and it's a joy to observe that they've grown as much as I have since the dawn of the last decade. The 2011 version of me might have been taken aback by The Dahlmanns making a record like this. The current version of me wouldn't have it any other way. Do you really want a band to sound exactly the same when 14+ years of living life and absorbing new influences separate two albums? I get the sense that the band is expecting Life in Reverse to be a polarizing release. But I'm anticipating reviews and (more importantly) fan reactions to be almost universally positive. This is an extraordinary album. When it comes to songwriting, musicianship, production, and vocal performances, this record leaves everything else in The Dahlmanns' catalog in the dust. It's still close enough to power pop to appeal to longtime fans, but it doesn't need to limit itself in terms of musical style. I love hearing this band show that it can rock both harder and softer than expected — and break all sorts of new ground in the process.

The Dahlmanns, in honoring some of the favorite artists of their lives, have made a record for people who love music. You can feel the love in these songs. And at a time when we need music more than ever as a retreat from the darkness of the world, Life in Reverse will take you to a place of joy and hope. It's available now from FABCOM! Records in the U.S.A. and Waterslide Records in Japan. European releases are coming soon!