Update

Hey everyone,
Those past few days have been slow for the blog as I've had a few exams and a very busy schedule (not only during the day, to be honest with you). This will continue in the next weeks as I am leaving for a few trips in Europe and won't be able to post anything. I will go back to write reviews as soon as I can. Bands can still email me at dailymusicreviews(at)hotmail.fr but I won't be able to reply before this weekend. Thanks for your loyalty and see you very soon!

Romain.

Four Year Strong - Enemy of the world

Four Year Strong have produced a little revolution in the world of pop-punk with their sophomore record 'Rise or die trying'. Not that they created anything: pop-punk with breakdowns isn't in any way their invention, but the way they've overlayed the energy and catchiness of the genre with a few fashions borrowed from hardcore, the whole added to thick poppy synth lines inspired a flood of bands who desperately tried to re-create this "poppy hardcore", "easycore" or whatever you want to call it. After the lukewarm reception that welcomed their cover album last year, everyone was lying in wait for the Worcester, Massachussets five-piece. Two years and a half and countless tours around the world after the success of 'Rise or die trying', the bearded crew is back with 'Enemy of the world'.

The evolution is blindingly obvious. Four Year Strong have refined their sound, removed the excess to come back with something smoother and more focused. There's less sugar, less hardcore gimmicks, less double bass, less synth as well. With less cheese and less breakdowns for the sake of breakdowns, the band from now on fully deserve to be taken seriously. It doesn't mean they have lost their fun side though, all you have to do is to have a quick look at the artwork and the song titles to make sure of it. But their sound is more polished and elaborated (the unbelievably addictive single 'Wasting time (Eternal summer)' is easily one of their best compositions), they've experienced more harmonies, more constructions, taken more risks and thus we find a few songs that would have less fitted on the previous album, such as 'On a Saturday' or the sad 'One step at a time', maybe the weakest on the record. With 'Find my way back', its soft vocals parts and its Set Your Goals tones, the band have even given a try to the hyper melodic and potential radio single track and have succesfully passed the test. This song could have been the best pop cover off 'Explains it all' if it actually was a cover. You can rest assured however, you will find everything you love about Four Year Strong on 'Enemy of the world': the vocal tandem Dan O'Connor/Alan Day at its best ('Flannel is the color of my energy'), keyboardist Josh Lyford's screams ('On a Saturday'), gang vocals by the dozen ('Nineteen with neck tatz') and memorable mosh parts ('This body pays the bill$'). Four Year Strong remain a breakdown factory, the one on the incredibly powerful opener 'It must really suck to be Four Year Strong right now' (a quote from Alternative Press's review of Set Your Goals' latest album) competing with what stood until now as their best ever on 'Heroes get remembered, legends never die'. And even if the poppier tracks will definitely work less live, some numbers will be instant fan favorites in the pit: 'What the hell is a gigawatt?' is a good reminder of 'Rise or die trying', except they took every element to a higher level, with the breakdown being the act's heaviest moment to date (with a featuring of Reign Supreme's Jay Pepito). The work on melodies is remarkable and you'll find some of the best choruses the band have ever written in 'Find my way back', 'This body pays the bill$' and 'Enemy of the world'. The grandiose final that is the latter song takes all of these elements back in a last energy and brothership epic assault that wonderfully closes the record. I also recommend you to check out the b-side 'Cavalier' off the 'It's not the size of the 7''... It's how you use it' vinyl single, it is even better than most of the songs that made it to the album and its trashing cymbals-led break will for sure turn your room upside down.

'Enemy of the world' is the logical step up that fans were waiting for. A more focused and rafined Four Year Strong leads to songs not blending together anymore and impresses by their effectiveness. The production is huge and so is everything on this record: choruses, gang vocals, choirs, breakdowns, blasting guitars and pounding drums. Only the synth is quieter, but it's for the best. Kids can stop worrying, their latest favorite band was not a one-shot and this third album is showing a cloudless sky for Four Year Strong. Now put your dance shoes on and prepare to sing along.

4/5

Recommanded if you like:
New Found Glory, Set Your Goals, A Day To Remember
Check also:
BannerHill, Can't Bear This Party!, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!

www.myspace.com/fouryearstrong
(Decaydance/Universal Motown, 2010)