Four Year Strong released their second studio album, “Enemy of the World,” March 9. Interestingly enough, the band has been going strong for just about that long.
From the looks of the five members, one would never guess them to be part of an alternative rock group.
For those that don’t know, Four Year Strong is a heavy/melodic pop-punk band with sounds similar to New Found Glory, Set Your Goals, and Forever the Sickest Kids. There are two lead vocalists with quite different voices, but they complement each other well. Unlike many other bands, they have different ranges of rock, meaning they mix up heavy head-banging songs with a melodic ballad and even an emotional number that hits close to home.
“Enemy of the World” is different than its predecessors. It has more aggression in the vocals, more energy and heavier songs. All the songs are fast paced and catchy, and the majority of them feature screaming. Listeners familiar with their previous album, “Rise or Die Trying,” are in for a surprise the first time they play these tracks.
The first song on the album, “It Must Really Suck to be Four Year Strong Right Now,” was released on the radio before the rest. This could be defined as the typical Four Year Strong song by starting out big and bold and growing into a loud and jumpy chorus, with its light moments and hard-core breakdowns.
All of their songs tell a story, whether it is deep and serious or funny and sarcastic. A thought provoking song called “On a Saturday” has the lyrics, “You asked what I stand for. Truth is I stand for this: It’s passion perfected, fashion neglected, a natural infection of all we have seen.” The listener is forced to decipher the lyrics beyond the surface, which is what all great musicians strive to achieve.
“Enemy of the World” is a step up from Four Year Strong’s previous albums. It’s a great album to blast in your car after a bad day at work, or to get you pumped up to win your school’s championship basketball game. This album is definitely one that grows on you.
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