Description
Millencolin – For Monkeys – Psychedelic Green Vinyl Record
25th Anniversary reissue
Millencolin – For Monkeys, released in 1997, is the third studio album by the Swedish punk rock band Millencolin, and it captures the band at a pivotal moment—evolving from their skate-punk roots into a more melodic, focused, and lyrically mature sound. While their earlier records (Same Old Tunes and Life on a Plate) leaned heavily on fast tempos, goofy humor, and catchy hooks, For Monkeys finds the band tightening their songwriting and beginning to experiment with slower tempos, darker themes, and more nuanced arrangements, without losing the energetic spirit that earned them a loyal fanbase.
Released on Sweden’s Burning Heart Records (and on Epitaph in the U.S.), For Monkeys still delivers plenty of high-speed melodic punk, a sound rooted in the California skate-punk wave of the early ’90s, drawing influence from NOFX, Bad Religion, and Pennywise. However, the album also reflects a desire to break free of genre constraints, offering more dynamic range and emotional weight.
The album opens with “Puzzle,” a classic Millencolin track—fast, hooky, and full of the melodic sensibility that defines their style. But soon, tracks like “Twenty Two” and “Stop to Think” introduce a more reflective tone, with mid-tempo pacing and introspective lyrics that hint at personal growth and emotional vulnerability. Nikola Sarcevic’s vocals are more confident and expressive here, balancing youthful urgency with subtle melancholy.
“Lozin’ Must” stands out as one of the album’s catchiest and most enduring songs. It blends a tight, bouncy rhythm section with a shout-along chorus and hints of irony in the lyrics—pure melodic punk gold. Meanwhile, songs like “Otis” and “Buzzer” maintain the band’s skate-punk energy but show off tighter arrangements and cleaner production. There’s also a heavier use of guitar layering throughout the album, giving it more textural depth than their earlier, rawer work.
For Monkeys continues to straddle lighthearted and serious themes. While there’s still a sense of fun, the album reflects a band entering their twenties and confronting more complex realities: relationships, identity, frustration, and uncertainty, rather than just adolescent rebellion or absurdity.
The production, handled by Millencolin themselves and recorded at Unisound in Örebro, Sweden, is noticeably cleaner and more balanced than on Life on a Plate, but it retains a DIY punk feel that keeps the energy raw and immediate.
Though it didn’t reach the mainstream success of 2000’s Pennybridge Pioneers, For Monkeys is a fan-favorite album—a transitional release that captures the band bridging the gap between youthful punk abandon and more thoughtful, melodic rock. It represents Millencolin’s growing confidence not just as punk musicians, but as songwriters interested in longevity and evolution.
If you’re looking to trace the arc of European skate-punk in the 1990s, For Monkeys is a key document, balancing infectious energy with emotional resonance. It’s still plenty of fun to blast on a summer drive or skate session, but it also hints at the depth Millencolin would further explore in their later records.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Puzzle
Lozin’ Must
Random I Am
Boring Planet
Monkey Boogie
Twenty Two
Black Gold
Trendy Winds
Otis
Light’s Out
Entrance At Rudebrook
Lowlife
Vixen
