Four Year Strong
In Some Way, Shape, or Form

Four Year Strong returns to the audience with their highly anticipated fourth studio effort, although in reality, "In Some Way, Shape, Or Form" is the fifth production by Alan Day & friends, considering that their discography also includes "Explains It All," their cover album released in 2009. The bearded Dan O'Connor, Alan Day, and company make a devastating comeback, confirming their artistic growth that finally explodes definitively in a phenomenal record, one of the most authentic and kick-ass rock works I have ever heard.

And all it takes is the mind-blowing chorus of the opening track "The Infected" to immediately set things straight, kick off the party, and make the listener want to break everything, such is the power unleashed by the four from Massachusetts. The aforementioned "The Infected" is an astonishing track: it starts with a killer riff and continues with a fast pace that carries on until the explosive chorus. And if there are any drops in tempo on the album, as happens with "Falling On You" and "Just Drive", rest assured: a few 'slowdowns' (yes, in quotes, we're still talking about Four Year Strong) are there, and they don't sound out of place, if only because "In Some Way, Shape, Or Form" is brimming with energy.
And it's precisely the most intense moments that make the difference: the quality peaks are reached with masterpieces like "Stuck in the Middle", "Sweet Kerosene", and "Heaven Wasn't Built To Hold Me", true must-haves for punk music fans.

Perhaps the only real slowdown is with the closing track "Only The Meek Get Pinched, The Bold Survive", which opens with a piano and voice sequence (yes, really, I swear I'm not kidding) only to explode at the end as only Four Year Strong knows how to do.

It's obvious to say that the final result of "In Some Way, Shape, Or Form" is exceptional. The rating is extremely high, I've given you the reasons, and if you don't trust the reviews, the solution is always the same: listen to the songs on YouTube ("The Infected" and "Stuck in the Middle" above all), love them, adore them, let yourself be carried away by their strength, and head to a record store to pick up this masterpiece.

There's no better way to spend 20 euros, I assure you.

RATING: 9.5