ALBUM REVIEW: Analysis Paralysis – Four Year Strong
When it was time for FOUR YEAR STRONG to start working on their eighth album, they were at a creative block. After the success of their seventh album, 2020’s Brain Pain, the band couldn’t find a single idea, unlike the forty-odd ideas they had for Brain Pain. After spending time at home, the band found inspiration for the album by looking back on what made Brain Pain so successful. However, if audiences think that Analysis Paralysis is just going to be a rehash of that album, then they are sorely mistaken. They also looked back on their classic sound and have given it an upgrade, creating an album for FOUR YEAR STRONG fans both old and new.
The result is a twelve-song album that shows a new side to the band. Opening song aftermath / afterthought is a grungy, guitar-heavy song that blends metal instruments with synths to create a heavy song that shows the band can blend seamlessly with the synth-metal crowd. The heaviness is slightly subdued during bad habit, but it doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for a few unclean vocals scattered throughout the song.
maybe it’s me is a classic pop-punk song with upbeat guitars whereas uncooked is a heavy rock song. Each song is individual, but it works in the band’s favour thanks to the care and attention that each song is given. Even though the songs’ runtimes are quite short, this doesn’t affect the pacing of the album. Short songs are standard in the pop-punk genre, so it’s quite clever that FOUR YEAR STRONG have used the pop-punk runtime to create their most diverse album.
Even though this album was born out of a case of writer’s block, by turning the formula on its head, the band have created one of the best albums of their career with some brilliant songs. For example, paranoia is a grunge-punk song whose chugging guitar riff carries the song along and there is even a short guitar solo at the end, whereas rollercoaster goes back to the band’s pop-punk sound which they are known for.
It is great that even in a musically diverse album, the band embrace both their past, present and future. Pacing wise, the album doesn’t sound rushed, despite the songs being short and the runtime being only thirty-five minutes long. This is thanks to producer Will Putney, who has helped to create a coherent, fun, and unique album for FOUR YEAR STRONG.
Overall, Analysis Paralysis is a fantastic album by FOUR YEAR STRONG who have created one of their best albums to date. By changing up their sound, the band have embraced a broader sound that doesn’t sound out of place with their pop-punk music. It also shows the future for the band now that they have embraced different genres. The production for the album makes sure that each song gets its own time to make an impact on the listener. Even though the songs are short, they do not sound rushed. The band make every genre that they play – whether it is pop-punk, rock, or synth-metal – sound like their own. With Analysis Paralysis, the sky is the limit for FOUR YEAR STRONG.
Rating: 9/10
Analysis Paralysis is out now Via Pure Noise Records.
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