Worcester`s Four Year Strong are releasing their fifth album with Pure Noise Records. The record contains 12 songs. Four Year Strong deliver strong punch with their energetic mixture of melodic hardcore and punkrock, even pop punk. From calm and atmospheric start of It`s Cool which evolves into melodic hardcore groove, there are also some rock influences in the guitar work of Get Out Of My Head. That simple guitar riff evolves into more complex melodic hardcore song. The harsh scream at the start of Crazy Pills led me to believe this was going to be something brutal, but actually the song is pretty much melodic. Here I must once more say that the vocalist for this band is one of the best in the genre, capable of transforming the voice from sheer brutality to gentle melody. One of my favorites on the record is Talking Myself In Circles with stomping playful bass line all through the song. Learn To Love The Lie is a song for which video was made, it is the most melodic and most hit potential catchy song on the record, so it was logical to make it a single. The title song is also one of my favorites on the record with fast pure hardcore punk parts and harmonies made in heaven. Mouth Full Of Dirt is fantastic, anthemic, I listened to it couple of times in a row, a lesson how modern melodic hardcore should sound like. Seventeen is a nostalgic ode to which I can relate to, when we were little hardcore kids, with not a care in the world, thinking we can conquer the world. Be Good When I´m Gone is a very sad song, reminded me of my Mom who passed away twenty years ago. The Worst Part About Me has that hitting groove riff, but also makes your skin crawl with pleasure when listening to the combining dual vocal lines. Usefully Useless is a song about trying to change, but not always making it, the lyrics are great fit perfectly to tempo and song arrangement. Young At Heart is a bit different song, more atmospheric, gentle and calm, almost ballad, but awesome nonetheless. This is a great album.

10/10