Massachusetts melodic hardcore punkers Four Year Strong have released two singles from their new album Brain Pain which is due out Feb. 28 via Pure Noise Records. The singles, ‘Talking Myself in Circles,’ and the title track ‘Brain Pain,’ are the first new songs to be released by the band since their 2015 self-titled release.
In the interim, the band released a 10 year anniversary edition of their iconic 2007 release, Rise or Die Trying, as well as 2017’s Some of You Will Like This, Some of You Won’t, which featured a selection of songs from the band’s catalogue rearranged acoustically.
‘Brain Pain’ starts with a downtuned guitar chugging along to a polyrhythmic beat, courtesy of drummer Jake Massucco. I’ve yet to hear polyrhythms in Four Year Strong’s style until now; I’m hoping the rest of the record will have moments similar to this. The song kicks into high-gear with a downbeat-laden verse, before guitarists and vocalists Alan Day and Dan O’Connor soar into the chorus with relatable lyrics about anxiety. With a title like ‘Brain Pain,’ I wouldn’t be surprised if mental health was a central theme within the lyrics of this record.
The fast-punk stylings give way to a quiet verse, with clean-toned reverberating guitars painting the track with a fantastical splash of noise. “I want to glow in the shadow; I want to shimmer enough to fade away,” sing Day and O’Connor as the swelling noise gives way to what Four Year Strong does best: low, slow riffage against scathing harmonies. ‘Brain Pain’ is a song that will be electrifying mosh pits during the band’s 2020 touring schedule.
‘Talking Myself in Circles’ is a positively catchy 90’s-style tune that comes with a trippy, (literally) teeth-pulling music video, which can be viewed on the band’s YouTube channel.
‘Circles’ starts bassist Joe Weiss clicking away against an infectious backbeat while guitar feedback rings out across the mix. Day and O’Connor deliver another excellent vocal performance filled with memorable hooks, painting this tune as the total single material it is. As soon as the chorus hits, it’s pretty clear that ‘Circles’ will be the new rock-n’-roll sing-along highlight of 2020.
Speaking of 2020, Four Year Strong has a pretty exciting touring schedule on the horizon. The band will be touring North America from the end of February through April with post-hardcore giants Silverstein and I The Mighty. The tour will come to Starland Ballroom in Sayreville on March 7.
The band will also be at Vintage Vinyl Records In-Store in Woodbridge Township on Feb. 25, performing an acoustic set and holding a record signing. Fans abroad can catch them in May when they tour briefly through England and Western Europe, playing select dates with Grayscale and Holly Would Surrender.
IMAGE TAKEN from diffuser.fm
