Album Review

Four Year Strong – Go Down In History

• 22nd Jul 2014

It’s always a relief when a good band return to form after a bit of a wobble. Go Down In History is the latest release from melodic-hardcore, soft-rock, pop-punk dabblers Four Year Strong and it’s with this EP that they might have cracked the secret to their sound, but not necessarily their songwriting.

Their debut ‘Rise Or Die Trying’ saw them break out of the pack and 2010’s smash hit ‘Enemy of The World’ cemented their spot as one of the fastest growing and most promising alternative bands in the world, but amidst it all they lost keyboard member and live lynchpin Josh Lyford in their decision to streamline the band’s rock direction. The resulting effort and third studio effort proper was ‘In Some Way, Shape, Or Form’ – a somewhat lukewarm release that would eventually lead to a hiatus and questions surrounding the lifespan of the band – had they burnt out too fast?

‘Go Down In History’ goes some way to answering that question with it’s gargantuan title track serving as a euphoric call to arms for fans; this band still have plenty to give, as proven by an enormous call and response refrain and a chorus hook to rival anything they’ve previously written. It’s a return to form of glorious pop-rock writing that strikes the perfect balance between relentless fun, wild abandon and credibiity; snaking lead guitars and a shower of cymbals all driven by their trademark fast-paced rhythms and dual vocals.

‘So You’re Saying There’s A Chance…’ teeters on the edge of greatness but never quite manages to tumble over, it’s enormous chorus supported by a fairly weak song structure and a disappointingly forgettable verse. It’s another reminder that whilst this could be seen as a step in the right direction by fans, will the band see it as covering old ground, their obvious desire for progression continuing to be a thorn in their side?

The rest of the release, sadly, hangs like a question mark over the future of their career. There’s a sense of confusion permeating the songwriting that’s impossible to ignore. The band are obviously reaching for their hardcore roots, presumably aware of the generally muted reaction to their more alt-rock explorations, but the carefree youth that energised their early material so viscerally has ebbed away and as such results in something of a musical limbo. The passion and the fire is back, but where are the hits?

It remains to be seen whether Four Year Strong are sitting on a goldmine, but this has at least fired our engines for another full length from the quartet.

Venue: Go Down In History
Support Band: Pure Noise Records