Unfortunately for the reviewer who wrote those now-famous words at the end of their Set Your Goals’ album review, the band have now pretty much made him eat his words with their latest offering, Enemy Of The World.
It was clear when this CD arrived on my desk, I was going to be biased. I love this band, and I’ve been waiting for this arrival for a few weeks now, and it’s now on it’s third rotation. But that’s mainly because the office stereo has the new That’s What I Call Music on.
Now counting Pete Wentz as their new Celebrity Best Mate after he grew a beard in honour of the new release, the boys can safely stand apart from the Set Your Goals comparisons that are all too familiar with, as this album is quite possibly the best I’ve heard this year.
Okay, that’s me being biased again, I’m going to have to try harder if I want to make it in the ‘professional journalism’ world, but to be honest with you, I guess I screwed that chance away when I professed my love for Jedward. What? They’re interesting.
Anyway, onto the matter in hand... With this, their third album, Dan O’Connor, Alan Day, Joe Weiss, Jack Massucco and Josh Lyford have pulled a blinder out of the bag, and I’m sure half of my Preston friends will be flying to HMV first thing in the morning on May 31 - that is unless they haven’t reordered it off Amazon or somewhere. They’re smart like that.
This is an album that will hit you like a brick in the face as soon as you whack it into your battered old CD player. Taking a leaf out of A Day To Remember’s book, the band takes harsh screams and melodic vocals in their stride with crashing breakdowns littered through the 11 track offering.
Tracks like 'On A Saturday' and 'Nineteen With Neck Tatz' go by at a furious pace, with the band grouping together in vocal unison at any opportunity, they also appeal to the masses with the likes of 'Find My Way Back' and 'One Step At A Time'
The first release off the album, 'Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)' is bursting with energy, and shows that the guys have stuck to the mantra ‘If it aint broke, don’t fix it’ with this album.
‘This Body Pays The Bill$’ is the standout track for me right now, don’t ask me why, because all the tracks are just as good as each other. Maybe it’s the title, maybe it’s the awesome melody in the chorus, or the lyric; “She’ll always be a lifelong tragedy, that’s how that she’s the one for me.” Who knows, but I love it.
I totally love the melody of 'Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride', it reminds me of a schoolyard chant, which is possibly not a great thing considering I was bullied for being ‘different’ in school. But half of them are knocked up nowadays, so it sucks to be them right now.
Closing track, 'Enemy Of The World' ends the album off brilliantly, summing up everything this band stand for; brilliant melodies, passionate vocals mixed with heavy guitars and some epic gang vocals.
The complete package doesn’t fail to deliver the bands signature style of huge hooks and riffs, and their 110mph style means that you’re left with a record that doesn’t’t give you a second chance to catch your breath. And I love it.
So, with 40 minutes of high octane, firing on all cylinders, holding nothing back, melodic hardcore, it’s clear that it really does not suck to be Four Year Strong right now…
Rating: 5/5 - Back and better than ever, this is a must-have for anyone with ears.
RELEASED MAY 31
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison