MADBALL 'Not Your Kingdom'

MADBALL
Not Your Kingdom
Nuclear Blast

As we age, the season of loss becomes almost perpetual. The loss of youth, identity, and loved ones is a spectre lurking around each new moment. Lately, to be sure, that is true in the heavy verse with the untimely loss of Lou Koller. To be completely fair though - the loss of Koller hits headlines, but I know that there is a world of loss that the world does not realize is gone. Hug your people. 

The year of our whatever 2026 brings us new MADBALL for the first time since 2018’s ‘For the Cause’ - a record that I was lukewarm to at best in retrospect. I haven’t really revisited it. Now, eight years older, perhaps wiser, but definitely older, the question becomes - whose kingdom is it? The answer, in no uncertain terms, the kingdom belongs to MADBALL. In the immortal words of MOGWAI, hardcore will never die (but you will). 

With a short run time and the longest time between albums in the band’s storied career, ‘Not Your Kingdom’ is easily the best thing MADBALL has released in years, possibly decades. It is so hard to qualify in any meaningful way, because goddammit, we all love early MADBALL. Admit it - we’re all old. But stretch those legs out, kiddies, ‘Not Your Kingdom’ will make you wanna dance. More importantly, it will make you think. 

Never one to shy away from the harsh realities of life itself on a stage wider than the microcosm of NYC, Freddy Cricien is a man who has gone through it - and still is. Through years of battle worn honesty, his voice is definitely one that earns the accolade of iconic and essential. ‘Not Your Kingdom’ slots easily among some of the best and most relatable lyrics the man has yet penned. “Tethered,” the lead off track of the proceedings, excellently calls to arms, hands, feet, stage divers, and crossed arm watchers (that’s me having a fantastic time). Get into it. Fall in love with MADBALL again. This is what I’m here for. 

Blastbeats? Okay then. “Flammable” goes by in about the blink of an eye compared to the rest of the album but holy sweet chocolate Jesus - what a ride. The riffs are more thrash than straight up NHYC, but really that’s where it all came from anyway - and MADBALL are absolutely elder statesmen in knowing the history of the future they are so good at writing. 

The hits keep coming. ‘Rebel Kids’ is, of course, the main point for the media, what with its huge hooks and singalong chorus, but follow up ‘Don’t Step’ is a bulldozer lying in wait. A missive of seething rage, but also and more importantly of guardianship and responsibility to those who we choose to love. It is a powerful statement. Oh, and Cricien goes full vocal fry - it’s actually chilling in consideration of his usual style. 

Elsewhere, the punch of ‘Life’s a Mural’ and ‘Family First’ are absolutely gutting- sit with them both for a while. As said, we are all getting older and with age comes introspection. Very, very loud introspection. 

Speaking of being loud - ‘Not Your Kingdom’ is easily the best mixed and balanced album MADBALL has committed to the great void in which we live. It just sounds great, from front to back and side to side. 

There are riffs all over the album - not simply breakdowns but honest-to-gods riffs. The kind of phrasing that gets stuck in your head three weeks from now, three months from now, and so on. The whole album represents MADBALL of the past, present, and beyond. I will come back to this one. 

PS: spend some time with that cover art, and fuck AI. 

4.5 Out Of 5.0