EASYCORE VETS ‘FOUR YEAR STRONG’ GET EXPERIMENTAL ON EIGHTH ALBUM – WITH MIXED RESULTS
ALBUM REVIEW | FOUR YEAR STRONG – ANALYSIS PARALYSIS by Craig Harston | 3/5
Four Year Strong have enjoyed revisiting the past in recent years. Whether on 2022’s re-recorded version of their classic 2010 album ‘Enemy Of The World’ or last years live ‘Holiday Special‘ compilation – or going even further back to the re-release of 2007’s first album ‘Rise Or Die Trying‘ on it’s 10th anniversary which was followed by another compilation, ‘Some Of You Will Like This, Some Of You Won’t’ – it’s clear they look back fondly on what’s come before. analysis paralysis marks their first new music since 2020’s ‘Brain Pain’ – and it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
On the more experimental side of things, album opener ‘aftermath/afterthought’ is an industrial rock song, filled with chugging guitars and a metallic breakdown. Unafraid to get melancholy, ‘maybe it’s me’ and ‘STFIL’ get a little emo and self-reflective, the former featuring a really catchy melody and the latter focusing on how much of a minefield falling in love is: “If you’re feeling like I’m feeling now, then I feel sorry for ya”.
There’s a lot of traditional Four Year Strong to love here – they’re a band that have always had a sound that’s all their own with their subtle blend of pop punk and hardcore, which is a bit less jarring than the likes of A Day To Remember or Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! ‘bad habit’ is arguably the highlight in this regard, a great song about wanting the person that’s no good for you, with a chunky hardcore riff, a great chorus (including great use of ‘hoo’s’) and a really beefy bridge. Elsewhere, the likes of ‘uncooked’ (with it’s dance-pop rhythm), ‘daddy of mine’ (possibly the heaviest track on the album), ‘paranoia’ ‘rollercoaster’ (which has an excellent breakdown), and the relentless ‘better get better’: “Everything is changing, everything is getting worse; it better get better” will also scratch that classic FYS itch.
For the most part, analysis paralysis got all the ingredients of what makes an FYS album work, it just doesn’t quite mix together perfectly and may have worked better as an EP rather than an album. There’s plenty here to please the long time Four Year Strong fans but quite a bit that may turn them off – but arguably enough to potentially bring in some new fans.
analysis paralysis releases on 9th August (Pre-order/Pre-save now) on Pure Noise Records and Four Year Strong plan to tour the UK and Europe in early 2025.
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