Back catalogue: Metal

Review: Four Year Strong has released their sixth album and first in four years, Analysis Paralysis, on Pure Noise Records. Produced by Will Putney, the album emerged from a creative struggle, with Dan O'Connor and Alan Day seeking inspiration in Putney's home studio. The result is a bold expansion of their signature pop-punk and hardcore sound, now incorporating industrial synths and raw reggae elements. This adventurous blend showcases the band's growth while remaining unmistakably true to their roots. The lead single, 'Uncooked,' exemplifies this evolution with its blend of hardcore intensity and 90s guitar work, delivering a chorus that's perfect for both mosh pits and headbanging sessions. Following 2020's Brain Pain, which took a more considered approach, Analysis Paralysis marks a fresh chapter for Four Year Strong, proving their ability to innovate while maintaining their core appeal. Fans can expect an exciting fusion of styles that pushes the boundaries of their classic sound.

Review: Kentucky metallic hardcore heroes and now with the release of 2024's You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To, easily the heaviest and most abrasive act to ever be nominated for a Grammy, Knocked Loose have been on a remarkable upward trajectory over the past half-decade thanks primarily to 2019's sophomore declaration of venomous intent A Different Shade Of Blue. Building off the beatdown blueprint of their 2016 debut Laugh Tracks, their sophomore follow-up dialled the controlled chaos up to maximalist levels with more frenetic compositions, bowl-rupturing breakdowns and a haunting atmosphere reminiscent of modern arthouse horror cinema, with internet circles dubbing their style as "A24-core", inspired by the film production house of the same name. Led by the despairing, throat-shredding howls of vocalist Bryan Garris and his macabre, esoteric lyricism that makes cuts such as 'Trapped In The Grasp Of A Memory', 'Mistakes Like Fractures' and 'And Still I Wander South' so simultaneously poetic yet anxiety-inducing, their underdog success story seems so unlikely and bizarre. From performing at Coachella to appearing as the live act on The Jimmy Kimmel Show, the shape of punk to come is here and more uncompromising than normies could have ever expected. At six years old, revisiting their second full-length serves as a reminder that they've always been this mean and unwilling to accommodate for more delicate sensibilities.