ATP! Album Review: Green Day - ¡Tré!

Some of the most pivotal trilogies in history end on a high point; some ground-breaking examples can be found in the original Die Hard and Indiana Jones franchises. Green Day's finale to their ambitiously relentless three album series, "¡Tré!", is no different. Completely living up to the phrase "saving the best for last". It's no secret that "American Idiot" really broke new ground for the band and propelled them from a punk band who would headline small clubs into a household stadium filling rock and roll band.

With this trilogy, Green Day have steered even further away from their roots in punk towards the direction of an increasingly power-pop influenced sound. Following the theatrical narrative interlaced around the ever successful "21st Century Breakdown" and "American Idiot", "¡Tré!" goes back to a much more basic formula: anthemic hooks with punchy guitar riffs within the confines of three minute pop songs.

Breaking new ground with the opening track 'Broken Heart' (a song which pulls a lot of influence from The Wildheart's 'Sky Chaser High') we see a very orchestrated Green Day with Billie Joe Armstrong's crisp vocals reaching new heights. 'Missing You' would sit in perfectly with the bands material pre-"American Idiot", with a very nostalgic element which reinvigorates the early days of pop-punk. With a chorus that wouldn't be out of place on a Bowling For Soup album, 'Amanda' follows a similar path, harnessing an Elvis Costello influence but speeding it up tenfold, adding their own punky twist to it.

'Dirty Rotten Bastards' is a future live favorite, soaring between different parts much like 'Jesus Of Suburbia', the song features a Green Day that has returned to their bitter angst towards society. Compressing an impressive guitar solo, a bass solo reminiscent of Rancid's 'Maxwell Murder' as well as several infectious chorus' 'Dirty Rotten Bastards' is one of the most exciting songs the band has released to date.

'The Forgotten' is a Green Day first, ending this trilogy on a slow paced piano ballad in a similar vein as The Beatles' 'Let It Be'. The decoration of strings and the nakedness of Armstrong's vocals really show a new dimension to Green Day. Despite this entire trilogy feeling more like an odds and ends collection rather than 3 cohesive albums, Green Day still prove that they are still one of the most important bands in recent history.

Tre/5

George Gadd

"¡Tré!" is out now via Reprise Records.