The verdict was out if Goldfinger would ever return. Over the last couple of years in particular, the band members’ business outside of the group saw a tremendous amount of expansion: drummer Darrin Pfieffer became a radio personality and president of a record label, John Feldmann became an activist keeping closer to full-time hours and Kelly LeMieux began instructing at the Paul Gilbert School Of Rock in Oregon. It had been three years since the band released a record (six since one charted). The band clearly knew that even a lot of faithful fans had counted them out too because from the very beginning of their long-awaited return, two things are constant in its eleven tracks: first, even when fans thought the band was at the height of its powers eight years ago, they’ve never played this forcefully and second, the title Hello Destiny… is apt because the band spends most of the record saying goodbye to their past in order to move and look forward.
The staple sounds that won Goldfinger its fan base—slash-and-burn skate punk guitars and drums on one hand along with ska rhythms best described as frisky and 100 percent fun on the other—all weigh in on Hello Destiny… but each is pushed to its limit because it feels like the band’s got something to prove; in songs including “One More Time,” “Goodbye,” “War,” “How Do You Do It” (on the very first listen to “How Do You Do It,” both my girlfriend and I agreed that, if we ever get married, the song should get played at some point during the proceedings) and “Get Up,” Goldfinger pulls out stops long-time listeners didn’t even know they had. The band wrings every last possible drop of passion into them before slamming them into their listeners’ eardrums as well as the pleasure centers of their brains. It’s unrelenting and powerful. Goldfinger simply does not let up for a second on Hello Destiny….
That isn’t to say that the album is humorless. One of Goldfinger’s greatest assets has always been an ability to make fans mosh and laugh at the same time and, once again, if you can’t do both at “Handjobs For Jesus,” you don’t have a pulse.
If all of the preceding doesn’t make it clear, let me remove any remaining confusion; Goldfinger is back and better than ever. Go buy this record—you won’t be disappointed.
Artist:
www.goldfingermusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/goldfinger
Album:
Goldfinger—Hello Destiny… is out now. Buy it NOW on Amazon.
