Fireside: Bin Juice

It’s here. The day we never dared to dream might happen. Swedish post-hardcore legends Fireside are back with their first album in nearly 20 years. Any time your favorite band releases new material–especially after such a long hiatus–there’s a mix of excitement and creeping fear, because…what if it sucks? 

After the first single, ‘Jungle Knuckle’ dropped, I had concerns. While I actually liked the song, it was hard to tell what it meant in terms of who Fireside would be in 2022. I needed to know we weren’t in for Get Shot 2, an album that had a few terrific songs, but was ultimately an awkward fit for the band stylistically. Would P.M.A bring the thunder this time? Would Kristofer’s raw, broken-hearted lyrics burn my heart on a stick like they used to back in the day? ‘Jungle Knuckle’ was cagey on the matter.

Well, BIN JUICE finally got its U.S. release, so let’s see how it goes…

1. Lex Tokyo

One song in, and this is already not what I was expecting. Sparse, almost industrial-sounding drums, a snarly bass tone, and judicious use of a chunky two-note riff. Kristofer’s voice cuts clear through it all, atop a harmonizing layer of childrens-choir vocals. I’ve never heard Fireside sound quite like this. They certainly haven’t kicked the door down with this album-opener, but they have piqued my interest. Solid start. 7.5/10

2. Blinds & Shades

Ok, now it’s on. At the risk of introducing the Q word too early in the review, two songs in and I’m getting a Distant Populations Quicksand vibe from these tracks. The ferocity of youth may not be front and center, but there’s an impressive economy of composition that the Fireside of 20-30 years ago might not have had the inclination to try. The drumming, riffs, and lyrics are all deceptively simple, but the song’s groove and vocal hooks are undeniable. 8.5/10

3. The Burlyman

Nice Fugazi-esque melody at the start of this one. For such a down-tempo song, this one doesn’t kill the album’s momentum as much as it could have. It helps that it’s a beautiful song, and that Kristofer’s vocals can burn your heart on a stick with an absolute minimum of musical accompaniment. 7.5/10

4. Jungle Knuckle

While I liked this single when I heard it, I was skeptical about what it meant for the full-length. I’m happy to report that in the context of BIN JUICE, ‘Jungle Knuckle’ really delivers. It’s definitely the most traditional rock/pop song on the album, but it touches a little on every era of Fireside’s career. It’s a real toe-tapper, and a great shot of energy right when the album needed it. 7.8/10

5. Easy Andy

My fear when I first heard ‘Jungle Knuckle’ is that we might end up with an album full of Get Shot Lite, jangly garage rock. BIN JUICE mostly dodges that concern, but there’s no getting around the fact that this is part of Fireside’s musical DNA now. It doesn’t make me angry, and it’s hard not to smile at the dichotomy between the song’s cheery disposition and soul-crushing lyrics. My kids love this song, fwiw. 6.0/10

6. Two Times With a Waterfall

Another new look for Fireside–it’s the kind of jittery post-punk disco that Spoon has settled into the past decade, and it works surprisingly well. I like this one, and I love that the band is trying on some new sounds. 8.0/10

7. Cocillana

Big time Dinosaur Jr. feels on this one, and Kristofer’s voice really seals the deal. I assume that’s new bassist Kate Breineder he’s harmonizing with at the end, and it sounds great. Another downtempo beauty. Do I wish he didn’t say the word ‘thing’ so much? Maybe. 7.0/10

8. Wild Mouth, More Trouble

Leave it to Fireside to punch you in the chest and then run away. This is pretty much BIN JUICE’s ‘Spit Out The Bone’. Lyrically and compositionally, the song would fit quite well on Fantastic Four or Do Not Tailgate, though the modern production helps it fit seamlessly with the rest of the album’s eclectic offerings. If the last minute of this song doesn’t do it for you, then you hate Fireside, and you’re no goddamn friend of mine. 9.0/10

There it is. On the whole, this album exceeded my expectations. Even Quicksand, Failure, and The Wildhearts took a few reunion albums to get the magic back, but Fireside have hit the mark on the first try. It’s not flawless. I do wish it had a song or two with the amps cranked to 11. And at 30 minutes, it does feel a bit slight. But it sounds more like a Fireside album than the last time we heard them, despite treading a lot of new ground. There are songs I like less than others, but nothing feels like filler, and I can’t complain about the track sequencing at all. The album has a great flow to it and goes down super easy. With any luck, this is just the first page in a new chapter of this incredible band's career. I can't wait to hear what comes next.