We don’t think it’s really that unfair to say that Four Year Strong dropped the ball a bit with In Some Way, Shape Or Form. The album just wasn’t quite up to what the band had created with the likes of Enemy of the World or Rise or Die Trying. Since last year, with the release of their EP Go Down in History, Four Year Strong seem to be back to their best, and in order to solidify that completely they’ve now released their sixth full length album, Four Year Strong.
Four Year Strong have become synonymous with their aggressive brand of pop-punk, with distinctive vocals and fast chuggy guitar tones. Their new self-titled album really takes their sound back to its roots and forms a really fantastic album that all fans of the band will love, even acknowledging the success of their EP, by adding ‘Go Down In History’ as the final track. What has really helped the band no end is the fact that they’ve finally taken a step back from the relentless releases, and had a real look at the music they were creating, to finally craft something as high quality as we know they can create. Four Year Strong have finally created a more refined album, something different yet oddly familiar, while at the same time not rushing out yet more new music.
Four Year Strong as an album is still chock full of anthems and fantastic chorus’ built to have a live crowd eating out their hands and chanting back lyrics right, left and centre. The album kicks itself off with ‘I Hold Myself In Contempt’, the perfect kick off to any album. The track slowly builds up before kicking you in the chest with some fantastic drum beats and guitar tones. All throughout there are chorus’ created for pure crowd participation, be it the lead single from the album ‘We All Float Down Here’, or the short but ultimately sweet punky track ‘Who Cares?’
Throughout the album, there was something that did bug us to begin with, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it did annoy people to begin with as well. There was an ever present drum beat throughout each track that felt like someone poking you in the back of the head, but on second or third listens, this poke becomes less prominent, and almost integral to the tracks. So if you’re aware of this mild annoyance on the first couple of listens, bare with it, the problem will dissolve.
Four Year Strong are aware of how their last album fared, and really took the time and effort to create something unique and with more thought behind it, than something that sounds ultimately rushed. They have returned in the best way possible, proving that they really have the ability to craft an album worth listening to, yet at the same time giving the fans something they really want, an album chock full of anthems, chorus’ and faux-punk vibes.
