By: Steph Mirsky
The tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania has long been the home to groundbreaking acts and genre-defying bands. A by product of innovation is the inevitable need to re-focus; the point at which transformation has become stagnant and returning to old ways is necessary. As the pop punk sub genre continues to head more towards the pop sound than punk, one New Jersey band is taking their stance and focusing on the punk sound of the pop punk spectrum. The Years Gone By, a four-piece band from Freehold, NJ, is composed of Nickolas Madore (vocals), Will Johnston (bass), Mike Polimine (guitar), and Louis Dobrolsky (drums). These guys has taken their place at the front of the multitude of the copycat bands that crowd the scene and established themselves with a true punk sound.
The Years Gone By pushed themselves into the hearts of local fans with the breakout EP On the Verge. A remarkably mature sound for an early release, this EP demonstrates the band’s ability to quickly harness a sound and run with it. The writing style on the On The Verge EP showcases Madore’s impressive lyrical talent and highlights his unique voice that partners pop high ranges with hints of raw punk. When the band released its full-length Forever Comes Too Soon on Rise Records, it seemed as though the band had an exciting and bright future. The Years Gone By toured fairly extensively off that album, but never quite reached the breakthrough the band deserved. However, when the band self-released Something You Know Nothing About EP this past October, it sounded as though they had refocused and matured. Something You Know Nothing About was recorded by Mike Kalajian (The Audition, Just Surrender, etc) at 30/30 studios and embodies the full potential of the band.
The Years Gone By has successfully toured off the self-released EP and began to find its stride in the pop punk genre. The band members are currently working on new material for a full-length that has been predicted to release on a new label sometime in 2010. With a sound as true as The Years Gone By’s, there is no reason that fans shouldn’t expect big things to come. So head over to The Years Gone By’s MySpace and check them out before they become famous.
Mon, Mar 8, 2010
Articles, Featured