If punk is dead, then where did the nostalgia go? Keeping the inaccuracy of the premise aside, its safe to say that punk is not defined by its subject matter. Norwegian band Still Shaking’s new full-length album “Relax Friends” is an exercise in looking inwards and outwards. Maintaining a heavily grounded punk sound, true to the roots and classics, the band is taking heavily on themes of self deprecation and reminiscence. Giving the listeners a solid collection of twelve tracks to see themselves in, they manage to capture and hold their attention without it sounding noisy. This is done in an ingenious way, wherein the band has let the music do the talking. The general tone is set at the outset with vocals that are not verbose or preachy, but rather precise and crisp and then it is clear that the music takes over in expression, being the embodiment of the emotions it is trying to convey.
The album kicks off with “Anxious and Airwaves”, an energetic song that encapsulates the sentiment of self-deprecation with an almost sense of humour. This is followed by “Whole Lotta Trouble” that introduces crooning vocals singing about owning up to yourself fueled by a relentless drumset impossible to ignore. The next song, the longest one on the album, “Back in 02” is unsurprisingly nostalgic and an exercise in self-discovery. This song is for anyone who’s felt passionate about anything, a reminder about why you started in the first place. The variations in the vocal sound makes it clear at this point that the musical trajectory of the band is evolving and that they are capable of much more versatile sounds and leaves the listener wanting more. “Lifeboat” continues the saga of self deprecation. It is melodic, with a riff that stays with you. While “Stay Young Forever” continues the saga of nostalgia in an alternative progression. The loud nature of the vocals is very reminiscent of early punk, with an outro that really stands out, which is also heard in “Last Time”. The riff gradually slows down, which on its own is not rare, but it is accompanied with the arrangement stripped down – giving you the feeling of watching the reflection of citylights glistening on the shore of a river. “DKWTGOA” at first seemed to me to be a corona inspired song but its so much more. It incorporates a very ambient punk sound to sing about feeling out of place and left out while everyone else has stuff to do outside. “Panic Jerks” brings back the cynicism, with a youthful and almost bratty sound. The back and forth in the chorus makes it seem like a repetitive voice in your head, speaking to the anxiety in your head. The album comes to a close with “Alone at Last”, a beautiful ballad tying it all together. It imbibes both the themes of nostalgia and frustration but in a conclusive fashion. The melody stands out in its unpredictability, which is what makes their music so compelling.
The sequencing on the album, atleast in the first half is quite interesting, the songs are not long but they seem to go in alternative progressions. The band has touches on outward looking pessimism and frustration in one song and then follows it up with inward looking nostalgia. They are discernible, expressive and cathartic. Still Shaking is a band to watch out for and a refreshing listen in the punk/grunge sphere. FNE got a chance to get an insight behind the scenes of the making of the album. Here’s what happened.
FNE: What was the creative process behind this music?
SS: A lot of our music is written during band practice. Someone might bring in a riff or intro or something like that and we’ll just play around with it until it sounds cool. Lyrics are usually written at some point later. But we play around with vocal melodies and stuff when we jam out the songs.
FNE: Now your music has quintessential punk elements. How would you further describe your sound within the punk genre? As an up-and-coming band, how do you see it evolving in the coming years?
SS: We started out as mostly a skatepunk band, but over the years we’ve maybe mellowed a bit and have been influenced more from pop punk and some indie rock as well.
As for the coming years, hard to say. We have some short-term plans now that Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted in Norway. Some friends of ours are also releasing albums, and we have plans to tour Norway with them early next year.
FNE: Which artists would you cite as your influences?
SS: The Flatliners, The Menzingers, Direct Hit, The Dopamines, Red City Radio, The Copyrights, Iron Chic, Hot Water Music, Dead To Me.
FNE: What inspired you to write this album?
SS: The last 4-5 years we’ve attended The Fest in Florida. Traveling there and getting to see all our favourite bands is a huge inspiration to us. When we come back home we all just want to write songs and play shows.
FNE: What is the story sought to be conveyed through the music? What would you say were the key takeaways you were hoping that your listeners would have from your music?
SS: It’s honestly just a bunch of punk rock songs about life. About all the ups and the downs life throws at you.
About key takeaways – we have a lot more small details in these songs compared to previous, that we hope people appreciate. We also want people to go out and see live shows, and to come see us live.
FNE: What would you describe as the best way to enjoy your music?
SS: Live. Music is always best enjoyed live with friends.
FNE: As a Norwegian band now signed to an American label, how do you think your sound finds relevance in the global pop culture sphere?
SS: We have some good catchy, energetic pop punk songs that we hope will stick in people’s minds.
FNE: What do you think is the most unique quality that your music has?
SS: Everyone in the band brings their own thing to the music. We write our songs together. I think we have our own sound. It’s fast and energetic, and with a lot of catchy melodies.