SHREDnews

By: Craig Johnson

Four Year Strong was a band that I heard about a few years ago and when I gave their debut album, Rise Or Die Trying, it was an listen it was an album I listened to constantly ever since. When hearing about their second full length record I got so excited to see what they came up with next. Due to this, it’s easy to say I had high expectations due to the first record I fell in love with. Well, it’s easy to say that as much as I loved Rise Or Die Trying, their new album Enemy Of The World not only exceeded my expectations but is easily going to be my favorite album of the year.

The album starts with It Must Really Suck To Be Four Year Strong Right Now, which was the first song off the album to be released. While it starts out almost identical to their older song, Beatdown In The Key Of Happy, it’s an extremely good song. When I listen to this song I feel like it’s constantly giving advice, especially the chorus. The next song, On A Saturday, is a truly powerful track that’s about being yourself and letting passion fuel you.

Wasting Time (Eternal Summer) is the albums first official single and is about feeling like  the relationship you’re in has just become nothing but a waste of time. This song is also one of the best examples of group chant vocals that Four Year Strong is best known for. Speaking of group chant vocals, the track Nineteen With Neck Tatz starts out with a powerful chant that leads into a song about making what’s wrong right again and having heart and soul. It’s one of my favorite songs off the record and I feel like it has some of the strongest lyrics.

Find My Way Back is about knowing what matters and finding your way back to it no matter the distance or challenge. The next track What The Hell Is A Gigawatt? is another one of my favorite tracks on the album. I feel like this song is about rising up and proving yourself when it’s most necessary.

One Step At A Time is a really catchy song and I really feel like it’s about holding on no matter how bad things might seem because when it comes down to it you’ll get through the hard times by waiting them out because things will only get better. The Body Pays The Bill$ is about a girl that is everything bad that people could not want to be with, but even if people see her for her worst you see her for her best and you know she’s the one you want to be with.

Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride is about proving yourself able to do what’s needed of you when people need you most. Flannel Is The Color Of My Energy is a song about knowing you need that one special person in your life no matter what. My last favorite song off the record and the last song on the record in general, Enemy Of The World is about feeling like everything is against you and no matter what you just have to go above and beyond even the odds are against you.

So as you can see, when it comes down to it, I strongly love every track off of Enemy Of The World and can’t believe how much this album exceeded the high expectations I already had. If you have not yet heard this record yet, please just go to any store that would sell it and pick it up. It’s worth every penny and more. Also check out Four Year Strong live if they ever come near you. I usually don’t talk about bands with this much enthusiasm but this is the exception due to how much Four Year Strong put into this record.

For Fans Of: Set Your Goals, The Wonder Years, Me Vs Hero

Overall Rating (Out of 10): 10

Tracks To Listen To: Nineteen With Neck Tatz, What The Hell Is A Gigawatt?, Enemy Of The World

Track List:

1. It Must Really Suck To Be Four Year Strong Right Now
2. On A Saturday
3. Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)
4. Nineteen With Neck Tatz
5. Find My Way Back
6. What The Hell Is A Gigawatt?
7. One Step At A Time
8. This Body Pays The Bill$
9. Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride
10. Flannel Is The Color Of My Energy
11. Enemy Of The World