Four Year Strong On The Rise.

Hard-Touring hardcore heroes Four Year Strong are about to become big news. But they’re not rock stars just yet…

Whilst Shep and Kenny may sound like contestants on One Man And His Dog you should not be fooled dear reader, these two American producers have crafted hits for respected, talented and credible (ahem) artists like Brooke Hogan (daughter of the Hulkster), Mandy Moore and the one, the only Aaron Carter (‘Crush On You’ is editor Darren Taylor’s favourite song honest). But, we hear your cries, why is Rock Sound discussing the back catalogue of these two individuals in an article that is supposed to be about popcore band Four Year Strong? The answer is simple, Shep and Kenny secretly co-wrote the band’s album ‘Rise Or Die Trying’. Well, that is not quite the answer, but it is definitely the rumour that has dogged the band since they joined Bayside, Punchline, Head Automatica and more who recorded with the duo. “We tried them out, our old management thought it would be a good idea,” admits guitarist and co-vocalist Alan Day warily. “A couple of things we did with Shep and Kenny made it out of those sessions onto our record. They did help us out with how songs work structurally, taking parts out and adding new things in here and there. Things they did like that were actually really good for us.”

But apart from a couple of b-sides and some help reworking unrealised material into new songs the dynamic duo contributed no more to ‘Rise Or Die Trying’, the band's second official release. With that rumour cleared up we have the duty to start a new one. The band recently signed a deal with Monsieur Wentz and his Decaydance label, so they must be millionaires now. Right?

“Not at all, we are far from comfortable,” admits Day, laughing. “For the most part we all sleep in the van, which is not that much fun. Four of us sleep in the van, two sleep in the trailer. Really glamorous. We have not got our million dollar paycheck.” Oh okay then, “it happened just because of friends," he clarifies. “We knew Pete, he wanted to help us out and we wanted to have that name to help us. We knew that everyone at Decaydance had the same intentions as we did, why should we have to trust some guy in a suit with our future when we can trust our friend who has the same ideas as us about were this band is going.”

And where are Four Year Strong going? On tour, playing their hardcore dependent pop punk for anyone who likes choruses and melodies as much as blastbeats and gang vocals. Unlike a lot of bands, they cannot wait. “We love it on the road,” continues Day. “We have been touring for three or four years but never as heavily as we are now. Last year we suddenly got offered one tour after another, we decided it would be foolish to pass stuff up so we have been touring hard ever since then. But we love it, it has been doing well for us.”

Know It All.
Line-Up: Dan O’Connor (guitar, vocals), Alan Day (guitar, vocals), Joe Weiss (bass), Jackson Massucco (drums) , Josh Lyford (synth)
From: Worcester, Massachusetts
Sounds Like: A hardcore band rewriting ‘Take This To Your Grave’.
Current Release: ‘Rise Or Die Trying’ (album, Full Time Hobby. Out April 28)
Website: www.fucktheguywhoownsfouryearstrong.com
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