Four Year Strong
Four Year Strong was formed in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 2001 by current members Dan O'Connor, Alan Day, Jake Massucco, and Joe Weiss as well as former member Josh Lyford. Dan O'Connor, Alan Day and Jake Massucco all attended Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester and met through mutual friends.[1] They released their first studio album, It's Our Time, not long after their formation. The record's run was limited to 400 copies. The band released a demo in 2006, which contained early versions of their songs from Rise or Die Trying.
Rise or Die Trying, Explains It All (2006–2009)[edit]
The band's 2007 release Rise or Die Trying with I Surrender Records peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart in its debut week.[2] On the back of their increasing popularity, the band was signed to Decaydance Records in February 2008.[3]
On July 21, 2009, Four Year Strong released covers album, titled Explains It All. The album features guest appearances from Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die, Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, and JR and Buddy of Less Than Jake.[4] The band explained their reasoning behind the album in a MySpace blog, saying "It's what we grew up listening to. Everyone has those songs that instantly transport you back to when you were younger. Whether we were in our bedrooms playing air guitar, or riding in the car to little league practice, or it was just that song that was all over the radio during that awesome summer at the Cape. These songs have impacted us in some way and we want to share that feeling with you."[5]
Enemy of the World (2010–2011)[edit]
The band's third full-length album, Enemy of the World, was released on March 9, 2010, with Universal Motown Records. The band released the album's first single, "It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now", on December 21, 2009. The name of the song is a reference to the final sentence of a review in Alternative Press in which the magazine praised Set Your Goals' new album while remarking on the future of Four Year Strong and how their record would compare. The vinyl record was made available to pre-order on March 2, 2010. The album sold 12,400 copies in its first week, debuting at number 47 on the Billboard 200. Four Year Strong has accompanied Set Your Goals in an Asian tour, but both canceled touring in Indonesia.
In Some Way, Shape, or Form and hiatus (2011–2013)[edit]
On April 3, 2011, it was announced that Josh Lyford would be leaving the band. Initially, it was implied that Lyford had chosen to leave in order to focus on his side project, Foxfires. However, it was later confirmed by both Lyford and Alan Day that the band had elected to remove synthesizers from their sound, leaving no room for Lyford to continue. On April 13, 2011, in an interview with Alternative Press, the band revealed that they had been in the middle of recording their fourth studio album with producer David Bendeth in New Jersey's House of Loud. The band is set to return to the studio, without Josh Lyford, to finish the album in June, after they finish touring with Rise Against.[6] Vocalist Alan Day has also revealed that the new songs the band had written were very diverse, and that the new material is different than anything the band has ever written before. While touring with Rise Against, they have been playing a newly recorded, yet unreleased, song called "Falling on You".
On August 18, 2011, the band released "Stuck in the Middle", a new song from the upcoming album. The band announced that the new album will be titled In Some Way, Shape, or Form, and would be released on November 8, 2011.[7] On September 8, 2011, the band released another song from the album, titled "Falling on You".[8] The first official single from the album, "Just Drive", was released on September 27, 2011.[9] During the Fall 2011 AP Tour, the band played another new unreleased song which will be released on the upcoming album. The band dedicated it to fans who have been there "from the very beginning, and will be there till the very end"; a video of the song has been leaked on YouTube. It is called "Fairweather Fan". In an interview, it was revealed that Four Year Strong would be playing the Warped Tour 2012.
As of May 15, 2012, Four Year Strong departed ways with their label Universal Motown/Universal Republic.[10] Regardless of the departure of the label, the band is still active as they played at the 2012 Warped Tour, and they performed with Blink-182 on their UK and Ireland tour. As of 2013, rumors have speculated if Four Year Strong has broken up. O'Connor had been married to his wife for almost two years, and Day started his side project The Here and Now, an alternative/blues group who released an EP of music that year. When interviewed by PropertyOfZack, Day mentioned that the band isn't breaking up but rather taking time off. Going further, he said, "This is the first time in five years or more that we’ve taken more than three weeks off on tour...We’re definitely not breaking up. It seems like a lot of people are saying that, but I don’t know why they’re saying that. Just because we haven’t come through your city three times this year doesn’t mean we’re broken up."[11]
Signing to Pure Noise Records, Go Down in History EP and Self-titled album (2014–present)[edit]
During their annual holiday show in Worcester, MA in 2013, Four Year Strong announced they were working on new material set to be released at a later date. They later announced an upcoming North American tour supporting Bayside set to tour throughout April 2014 and will play the Vans Warped Tour in its entirety the following summer. On May 27, 2014, the band announced a new EP titled Go Down in History, to be released through Pure Noise Records, on July 22, 2014. The EP's lead single, entitled "Tread Lightly", was released on June 5, and the EP was streamed in its entirety a day prior to release. The EP received critical acclaim upon release, with many critics praising the band's return to their signature sound.[12] The band, as of October, has tweeted and posted photos on Instagram confirming that they are in the studio recording a new full-length album, set to release sometime during 2015. They kick off their Go Down in History tour on November 1, 2014, accompanied by Transit, Such Gold, and Seaway.
At their 2014 holiday show in their hometown of Worcester Ma, the band announced a full album would come later in 2015. On February 25, 2015, the band posted a picture on their Facebook account, showing bassist Joe Weiss in the studio. The picture was simply captioned "Finishing LP4", implying that the band was in the final steps of recording their new album. On March 20, 2015, the band posted a string of tweets on their official Twitter account claiming that their upcoming record was co-produced by their "new friend and manager" rapper Kanye West. It's unclear whether or not the announcement was a joke or if the partnership is real, with neither parties denying the claim.[13] On April 2, 2015, Four Year Strong announced the artwork and track listing for their upcoming self-titled album which was released on June 2, 2015. The album was produced by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou. Vocalist/guitarist Dan O' Connor stated that the album was “one of the most raw records we’ve ever made, it’s just us playing. No fancy computer shit. Made for singing along and head banging.”.[14]
On April 9, 2015, they released a brand new single entitled "We All Float Down Here", followed by "I'm a Big, Bright, Shining Star" and "Eating My Words" on April 27 and May 13, respectively.
The album was made available for streaming on May 27.
Rise or Die Trying, Explains It All (2006–2009)[edit]
The band's 2007 release Rise or Die Trying with I Surrender Records peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart in its debut week.[2] On the back of their increasing popularity, the band was signed to Decaydance Records in February 2008.[3]
On July 21, 2009, Four Year Strong released covers album, titled Explains It All. The album features guest appearances from Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die, Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, and JR and Buddy of Less Than Jake.[4] The band explained their reasoning behind the album in a MySpace blog, saying "It's what we grew up listening to. Everyone has those songs that instantly transport you back to when you were younger. Whether we were in our bedrooms playing air guitar, or riding in the car to little league practice, or it was just that song that was all over the radio during that awesome summer at the Cape. These songs have impacted us in some way and we want to share that feeling with you."[5]
Enemy of the World (2010–2011)[edit]
The band's third full-length album, Enemy of the World, was released on March 9, 2010, with Universal Motown Records. The band released the album's first single, "It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now", on December 21, 2009. The name of the song is a reference to the final sentence of a review in Alternative Press in which the magazine praised Set Your Goals' new album while remarking on the future of Four Year Strong and how their record would compare. The vinyl record was made available to pre-order on March 2, 2010. The album sold 12,400 copies in its first week, debuting at number 47 on the Billboard 200. Four Year Strong has accompanied Set Your Goals in an Asian tour, but both canceled touring in Indonesia.
In Some Way, Shape, or Form and hiatus (2011–2013)[edit]
On April 3, 2011, it was announced that Josh Lyford would be leaving the band. Initially, it was implied that Lyford had chosen to leave in order to focus on his side project, Foxfires. However, it was later confirmed by both Lyford and Alan Day that the band had elected to remove synthesizers from their sound, leaving no room for Lyford to continue. On April 13, 2011, in an interview with Alternative Press, the band revealed that they had been in the middle of recording their fourth studio album with producer David Bendeth in New Jersey's House of Loud. The band is set to return to the studio, without Josh Lyford, to finish the album in June, after they finish touring with Rise Against.[6] Vocalist Alan Day has also revealed that the new songs the band had written were very diverse, and that the new material is different than anything the band has ever written before. While touring with Rise Against, they have been playing a newly recorded, yet unreleased, song called "Falling on You".
On August 18, 2011, the band released "Stuck in the Middle", a new song from the upcoming album. The band announced that the new album will be titled In Some Way, Shape, or Form, and would be released on November 8, 2011.[7] On September 8, 2011, the band released another song from the album, titled "Falling on You".[8] The first official single from the album, "Just Drive", was released on September 27, 2011.[9] During the Fall 2011 AP Tour, the band played another new unreleased song which will be released on the upcoming album. The band dedicated it to fans who have been there "from the very beginning, and will be there till the very end"; a video of the song has been leaked on YouTube. It is called "Fairweather Fan". In an interview, it was revealed that Four Year Strong would be playing the Warped Tour 2012.
As of May 15, 2012, Four Year Strong departed ways with their label Universal Motown/Universal Republic.[10] Regardless of the departure of the label, the band is still active as they played at the 2012 Warped Tour, and they performed with Blink-182 on their UK and Ireland tour. As of 2013, rumors have speculated if Four Year Strong has broken up. O'Connor had been married to his wife for almost two years, and Day started his side project The Here and Now, an alternative/blues group who released an EP of music that year. When interviewed by PropertyOfZack, Day mentioned that the band isn't breaking up but rather taking time off. Going further, he said, "This is the first time in five years or more that we’ve taken more than three weeks off on tour...We’re definitely not breaking up. It seems like a lot of people are saying that, but I don’t know why they’re saying that. Just because we haven’t come through your city three times this year doesn’t mean we’re broken up."[11]
Signing to Pure Noise Records, Go Down in History EP and Self-titled album (2014–present)[edit]
During their annual holiday show in Worcester, MA in 2013, Four Year Strong announced they were working on new material set to be released at a later date. They later announced an upcoming North American tour supporting Bayside set to tour throughout April 2014 and will play the Vans Warped Tour in its entirety the following summer. On May 27, 2014, the band announced a new EP titled Go Down in History, to be released through Pure Noise Records, on July 22, 2014. The EP's lead single, entitled "Tread Lightly", was released on June 5, and the EP was streamed in its entirety a day prior to release. The EP received critical acclaim upon release, with many critics praising the band's return to their signature sound.[12] The band, as of October, has tweeted and posted photos on Instagram confirming that they are in the studio recording a new full-length album, set to release sometime during 2015. They kick off their Go Down in History tour on November 1, 2014, accompanied by Transit, Such Gold, and Seaway.
At their 2014 holiday show in their hometown of Worcester Ma, the band announced a full album would come later in 2015. On February 25, 2015, the band posted a picture on their Facebook account, showing bassist Joe Weiss in the studio. The picture was simply captioned "Finishing LP4", implying that the band was in the final steps of recording their new album. On March 20, 2015, the band posted a string of tweets on their official Twitter account claiming that their upcoming record was co-produced by their "new friend and manager" rapper Kanye West. It's unclear whether or not the announcement was a joke or if the partnership is real, with neither parties denying the claim.[13] On April 2, 2015, Four Year Strong announced the artwork and track listing for their upcoming self-titled album which was released on June 2, 2015. The album was produced by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou. Vocalist/guitarist Dan O' Connor stated that the album was “one of the most raw records we’ve ever made, it’s just us playing. No fancy computer shit. Made for singing along and head banging.”.[14]
On April 9, 2015, they released a brand new single entitled "We All Float Down Here", followed by "I'm a Big, Bright, Shining Star" and "Eating My Words" on April 27 and May 13, respectively.
The album was made available for streaming on May 27.