FOUR YEAR STRONG-ANALYSIS PARALYSIS
Four Year Strong return in full force on analysis paralysis continuing their more overt sonic embrace of 90s rock from Brain Pain while both expanding the influences from that decade and beyond and adding some experimental wrinkles to the proceedings. It’s also their most overtly hardcore/metalcore record so far, yet they’ve lost none of the catchiness of their career to date, nor have they punted on modernizing their foundational influences, instead incorporating yet more of them and in a combination that sounds fresh and vibrant. I’m not sure any other band could’ve pulled off a track like "bad habit": pop punk meets Third Eye Blind with a big breakdown and an anthemic chorus that reminds me strongly of—and I’m sure is intentionally meant to evoke—Steve Miller Band’s "Abracadabra," with a Bilmuri-esque "hoouh!" It’s really quite impressive. Speaking of breakdowns, the band’s decision to drop in the "Rollercoaster of Love" sample before the breakdown in "rollercoaster" is extremely advanced, on the Bilmuri/Kevin James sample tier.
Album opener "aftermath/afterthought" is one of the most interesting songs I’ve heard this year, almost like a brief overview of 90s alternative music condensed into one track, with alt-rock, post-grunge, nü metal, and especially Nine Inch Nails mixed with metalcore and a sick breakdown. The music video has the feeling of footage from the Koresh compound (although I’m pretty sure it’s just random places in Worcester) mixed with the aesthetic and vibe of the Brendan Yates of Turnstile-directed "This Is Why" by Paramore video.
Elsewhere, the band continues to lean into the sound of bands like Everclear or The Verve, while sometimes getting more aggressive— "daddy of mine," for example, reminds me a lot of "Decayin’ with the Boys" by Every Time I Die (this is a good thing)—or stripping things back—such as on "maybe it's me" with its GLOW ON-esque application of dream pop floating over and around the track like gentle clouds. "paranoia," "dead end friend," and "better get better" are first-rate peak 90s-core tracks, "STFIL" is the song that is closest to the distilled essence of the record in one track, and "how do i let you go?" closes us out on a softer, dreamier note, the sonic equivalent of a slightly breezy but still sunny and warm late August afternoon, beautiful but with traces of melancholy in the air.
analysis paralysis is the logical progression from Brain Pain, building on the band’s full embrace of the decade of pastel colors and Clintonian extramarital affairs with an increased willingness to experiment and combine influences in a way that is both nostalgic and fresh. Another strong addition to the catalogue of a band that may be fairly deep into their career at this point but shows no signs of slowing down or growing stale any time soon.