Record Label: SideOneDummy Records
Genre: Ska Punk
Band Link: link
Buy on Amazon.com link

So Cal’s ska punk innovators are back with their sixth full length and their first with original guitarist Charlie Paulsen since “Stomping Ground”. Is it any surprise that those were their three best albums?

Right off the bat, something feels different about “Hello Destiny”. “One More Time” kicks the album off with a pop punk sound reminiscent of something from “Stomping Ground”. And then this is where it gets old school. The second track, “Get Up” is 1996 era Goldfinger ska track complete with horns, the third track, “Goodbye” is a mid-tempo punk track that could have been found on “Hang Ups” and “The Only One” is one of those ska/reggae tunes that only Goldfinger could write. Sprinkled through out the twelve songs on “Hello Destiny”, you will find other little gems like “How Do You Do It” and the uber-fast punk blast of “Not Amused”. Goldfinger has also lightened up a little bit since I last listened to them with “Open Your Eyes” with the schizophrenic jab at religion with the aptly titled “Handjobs For Jesus”. Yep…I’m not making that up.

“Hello Destiny” is definitely an improvement over Goldfinger’s last two releases. Side One Dummy seems to have something to do with invigorating the careers of certain bands. (See: Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Suicide Machines) There is more variety on “Hello Destiny” and the sarcastic wit seems to be seeping back into the group. With Charlie Paulsen back in the fold, the band also seems to have revisited their ska punk roots. Maybe that was their destiny all along?

Bottom Line: A strong Goldfinger album reminiscent of the late 90’s.
Notable Tracks: One More Time, Get Up, The Only One, Handjobs For Jesus
Overall Rating: