State Champs: Kings of the New Age album review focuses a lot on the wrong things | music | entertainment

Some of the paths of New Age Kings are unwaveringly strong. The lyricism and grooves of the three-piece band are a force to be reckoned with. Some teams with more members never seem this dynamic.

Much of that is thanks to singer Derek Descanio, who faithfully holds the record with some of the band’s biggest hits to date.

In the end he is the perfect example of state champions at their best. Their guitar licks and intricate lyrics drive listeners into an avalanche of creativity that will keep popping up in your head for days to come.

Of course, their new single “Everybody But You” became one of their biggest hits to date. And for good reason. This is the time when the state champions are the absolute best. There are hints of Weezer in there, perhaps a touch of All American Rejects – but ultimately this is the band’s proof that they can still write a solid pop song with a difference. It sets them apart from other standard acts in the industry without departing too much from the beloved “pop-punk” genre.

Fortunately, the New Age Kings have quite a few paths like this.

Outta My Head – for example – sounds like a classic All Time Low… but with a better sound. And I don’t say it lightly: Derek really has the best voice in rock right now. Who else has the vocal range or the ability to eliminate these complications? Nobody, that is.

Do not believe me? Go listen to Fake It.

Here, State Champs build on their punk foundations with the charismatic pop personality who gets her hook inside you. do you want more? Just Sound has a chorus that looks like it was copied straight from the ’90s sitcom. I can listen to it every day.

Unfortunately, for me, this is where the album starts to drift a bit.

Just Sound’s final crunch and fade out seems a bit uninspiring, and it’s only made worse by the next few songs. In the following strikes, state heroes lose their unique and creative advantage when they work with other people.

No doubt they’ve been joined by some great names on the record (Mitchell Tenpenny on Act Like That, Four Year Strong on Sundress, Chrissy Costanza on Half Empty), but these songs sound a little worse because of that.

Act exactly that way by the numbers, and as a result, skipping can be very worthwhile. Sundresses have the same appearance. Half Empty is the only real “song” on the record – but it doesn’t go well with me at all. We know Derek can throw a tearful intimidation song, but this one doesn’t have any heart behind him. And Costanza feels completely out of place (although her voice is exceptional).

Even the iconic verse from Ben Barlow to Nick Depp is getting a little annoying to everyone but you.

Were the state heroes working hard to accommodate their guests but losing a shadow of their identity along the way? It kind of feels that way.

State Heroes are objectively better than many of these other works. Their latest track, Some Minds Don’t Change – a grunge-tinged anthem that allows Derek and guitarist Tyler Szalkowski to explore the depths of their talent and creativity with amazing results – proves it. I’d love to see more tracks like these in the future.

Regardless, State Champs fans will absolutely adore the first half of Kings of the New Age. Not only does it contain tons of futuristic classics, but it continues to evolve the band’s sound for, hopefully, the big band I know it’s capable of becoming.

State Heroes – New Age Kings are out now.



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