We all know Teenage Bottlerocket, they’ve been around for a quarter of a century, they’ve now released ten albums and toured pretty much everywhere on a chassis built by the brothers Ramone. I confidently put on their latest album, Ready To Roll, knowing that I would get a half hour of full tilt four on the floor Ramonescore, I mean they aren’t going to give us any surprises at this stage are they? Turns out I was wrong, I’m not saying that the Teenage Bottlerocket we all know and love isn’t present on their new album, but there are are few curveballs thrown at you.

The opening duo of Afraid Of The Dark and Friend Named Fly both represent a departure into poppier territories, it’s still very Teenage Bottlerocket, it’s just a bit mellower and embraces their Pop Punk brethren. And then there’s Stupid Song, which defies all expectations of what this song will sound like, this borders on 80’s new wave and dare I say there are even touches of Synth Pop. In contrast to this there are also moments when they go faster and harder, of course they’ve always had their slightly darker side and What To Be For Halloween would compliment The Misfits nicely on your spooky season playlist. There’s also High Speed Yoga for all of your high intensity workout needs, which frankly I found to be slightly scarier!

Fear not though, there’s classic Teenage Bottlerocket scattered across the albums 14 tracks and 42 minutes. Home to You is a prime example. There’s no shortage of songs about missing loved ones whilst on the road, but this is the kind of song that is deep in the band’s DNA and there’s also two heartfelt counterparts, True To You and She’s The Shit. Giant Bug is the best 90’s Punk song you will hear that was released in 2025 and All About It is a wistful Punk Rock look back at their roots, again this is not an unfamiliar theme for many Punk bands, but this just feels so right. I Want To Die On My Birthday takes us back to tried and tested Teenage Bottelrocket and keeping the dark side going is Post Mortem Depression. There’s also Taquero and the albums title track keeping their Punk Rock flag flying high.

The core of Ready To Roll is pure Teenage Bottlerocket, but they have shown that they still have a few surprises up their sleeves. That’s not to say that this doesn’t feel like a Teenage Bottlerocket album, because it does, but maybe just a bit older, wiser and ever so slightly mushier. Teenage Bottlerocket are still very much doing what they do and old school fans in their battered converse will still get their fix, but there’s a slight twist that compliments the tried and tested perfectly.

Ready to Roll can be ordered on vinyl, CD and cassette via Pirates Press Records (North America), Coretex Records (EU), Plastic Head (UK) and Endless Detention Records (AUS). Teenage Bottlerocket will also be hitting the road on the second leg of their Shred Canada Tour from the 23rd September with support from We Were Sharks. The band will then be hitting San Pedro, CA’s Punk in The Park and hitting the road once more in the US in November. You can view Teenage Bottlerocket‘s tour dates and purchase tickets here.

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