Words by Angela Croudace
Pure Noise Records
Out Now
Nothing takes me back to 2010 like Four Year Strong‘s standout album, Enemy of the World. With its raw pop-punk anthems like It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong and Tonight We Feel Alive, it resonated deeply with pop-punk fans everywhere. For me, Enemy of the World was the album of my final year of high school, encapsulating that intense period of teenage angst as I stood on the brink of adulthood, desperately clinging to my emo identity.
I’m excited to share that Four Year Strong’s latest release, analysis paralysis, blends their signature sound and a glimpse into their new musical direction. After wrapping up a US tour with A Day To Remember and The Story So Far, it’s impressive that the band has also been preparing for the release of analysis paralysis and planning their own tour. Over their two-decade career, Four Year Strong has consistently released albums and reinvented their sound while staying true to the pop-punk roots that their fans know and love.
Rather than beginning with a set of completed tracks, vocalists and guitarists Dan O’Connor and Alan Day entered the studio with no finished songs, facing the challenge of crafting fresh music without relying on their established patterns. analysis paralysis emerged from a creative process focused on innovation rather than safety, marking a distinct departure from how their previous albums were produced.
The album is a high-speed thrill ride, with over half of its tracks under three minutes, combining energetic beats, relentless riffs, and synth elements into a whirlwind of sound. Rather than feeling disorienting, it’s more like the exhilarating chaos of a mosh pit, interspersed with some slower tracks to offer a breather for those of us over 25.
If you’re after tracks that fuse hardcore with their classic pop-punk sound, uncooked, bad habit, and paranoia offer shout-along choruses, catchy riffs, and wicked drumbeats. The standout track on analysis paralysis is daddy of mine. I’ve played this one repeatedly, and it encapsulates the best of Four Year Strong in just a few minutes. Many fans have noted that Daddy of Mine resembles something from Every Time I Die, and I think that’s a spot-on comparison.
Tracks like STFIL, rollercoaster, and how do I let you go showcase the band’s experimentation with different directions. While STFIL and how do I let you go are catchy despite their slower tempos, some aspects of these tracks, such as the vocals and lyrics, feel somewhat underwhelming. The liberal use of autotune and distortion might have been a tad overdone, which left me feeling like a more nuanced approach could have been more pleasing. Lyrically, some songs come across as trying too hard to capture the emo feelings of the 2000s, making them feel dated and prosaic in the present day.
Another example of the band’s commitment to experimentation on this album is out of touch. This track carries a Dandy Warhols-like vibe with its catchy synths, but Four Year Strong’s unique touch comes through in how they’ve layered it with their signature pop-punk sound. The lyrics are solid, and this song delivers what fans have hoped to hear from the band, even if it doesn’t sound like a typical Four Year Strong production. It starts strong and finishes even stronger, showcasing the breadth of their intriguing, inventive direction.
While analysis paralysis left me wanting more lyrically and vocally—given Dan and Alan’s proven ability to create standout tracks and harmonize effectively—the album’s moments of raw aggression and intensity, highlighted by tight guitars, synths, and drums, make it well worth a listen. Despite a few missed opportunities, the standout tracks shine brightly. Overall, analysis paralysis is a dynamic and engaging release that captures Four Year Strong’s innovative spirit and ability to evolve while staying true to their roots.
