Enemy of the World

VINYL FORMAT. Following up on Explains It All, an album of '90s covers, Four Year Strong return to the crossroads of emo and pop-punk with their second album of original material, Enemy of the World. The Worcester, MA quintet's sound remains largely unchanged, with their combination of pop-punk energy, uplifting sing-along choruses, and metal-core flourishes. There's not a lot in the way of innovation here, but there doesn't really need to be. Four Year Strong has stumbled upon a sound that takes the catchiest elements from three different genres and bundles them up in a high-energy package that's undeniably catchy. Alone, these styles have almost been done to death. By mixing them together, the band has created a dynamic sound that keeps the listener on their toes as they effortlessly shift from hardcore breakdowns to sweeping, half-time choruses. On "It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong," the album opener and first single, the song shifts back and forth easily from metal-core chugging to driving, major-key passages that invite you to join in and help out with the vocal duties. Jam-packed with hooks and gang vocals, the rest of the album follows along those same lines, showing off the talents of a band of tight and consistent musicians and songwriters who've taken a wide range of styles and combined them into something that is all their own. – All Music