Four Year Strong is back in a big way with their release of their Self-Titled (S/T) album. Gone are the days of their experimental Foo Fighter-esque album In Some Way, Shape or Form, which if I may add was generally a flop as far as album releases go. They had abandoned their easycore roots, kicked out their keyboardist Josh Lyford (drama ensued) and went with a more rock-n-roll feel. However this was not what the fans wanted at all. As a result Four Year Strong toured and played cult-classics realizing that they were best received when playing easycore. Fast forward to 2014 and Four Year Strong gets signed to Pure Noise, they release Won’t Go Down In History and everyone rejoices; easycore is back! This brings us to present day 2015 Four Year Strong has played Warped Tour and headlined in support of “Won’t Go Down In History” showing fans that they are back to their old ways of crunchy heavy riffs, jumpy choruses, and numerous gang vocals.
With that in mind we dive into the meat of this review. The album opens up with “I Hold Myself In Contempt” a rip-roaring song packed full of powerful guitar riffs, brutal drum beats, huge gang vocals and gritty vocals that FYS is known for. The rest of the album follows suit proving that FYS has released a fun, upbeat, happy summer album that is a must listen to if you need something to blast while driving around town. Between Dan and Allen’s vocals seamlessly trading off lines and heavy guitar riffs you would never guess that the guys had walked away from their easycore roots. However I must say that only one or two songs on this album stand out for me. Almost all the songs sound the same, I find myself easily putting this album on in the background while I hang out with my friends. I do not see myself sitting down and spinning this album on a lazy afternoon or evening. Both “We All Float Down Here” and “I’m A Big Bright, Shining Star” are the two songs that stand out from the rest of the album. They are the only two songs that had me head banging and jumping around my house while listening to this album. These songs have catchy lyrics, fantastic breakdowns, imaginative, and memorable lead guitar parts. All the other songs on this album are good, just not memorable and none of them leave me craving another listen. As a whole this album just seems like they are trying a little too hard to get back their initial fan base from 2007 when they released Rise Or Die Trying. I like the album’s heavy, powerful, melodic guitar riffs; gritty vocals; and intense drums. But, it simply just doesn’t live up to any of their past releases. Even their EP Won’t Go Down In History was significantly better than this release. It pains me to say it but Four Year Strong’s S/T will only get a 2 star rating in my book. I just really felt like they didn’t spend enough time on these songs (which is shown by the simple fact that they re-recorded the title track off of their last EP “Won’t Go Down In History”). I was really hoping for more from the band after hearing Wont Go Down In History.
Overall Rating: 2 out of 5
Recommended Tracks:
“We All Float Down Here”, “Wont Go Down In History”, and “I’m a Big Bright Shining Star”
