Album Review: State Champs – 'Kings of The New Age'
New York outfit State Champs burst onto the scene back in 2013 with their incredible debut The Finer Things, now 11 years later, Kings of The New Age feels like the band are back to their roots and ready to go one better.
In the time that passed State Champs have gone a long way in becoming a household name within the pop punk scene, with fans hopeful that they would continue to maximise the potential they so clearly possess. With the release of this, their 4th studio album, there really seems to be a focus on what made the boys what they are today – infectious, upbeat and feel good pop punk. The kind of music you can’t help but to scream at the top of your lungs and refuse to come out of your head, this is especially prominent within the albums opener Here to Stay and Where Were You
The album includes a couple of features, including their single Everybody But You which features a verse from Neck Deep front man Ben Barlow. The track is one that fans of both bands will love and is a great to see two of the biggest names in modern pop punk come together in a track that encapsulates all the trademarks of the genre with all the angst you could wish for.
Other features include country singer Mitchell Tenpenny, fellow pop punkers Against The Current’s Chrissy Costanza and fan favourites Four Year Strong all to a very varied song selection.
Half Empty featuring Costanza really shows what State Champs are capable of, venturing away from their usual pop punk sound but absolutely smashing all expectations. A very arena ready sound follows and leaves me wanting more. This song shows the progression of the band from snappy and loose pop punk at the start to a very refined and determined rock song, whilst still being able to slip seamlessly between.
Act Like That with Tenpenny leans more towards the pop side of pop punk, with a catchy chorus and soft an easy versus, but works perfectly for the loving nature of the track. Tenpenny’s vocal range adds greatly to the climax of the track, perfectly complimenting Derek’s voice.
The final feature comes in the form of Sundress, an anthem that would perfectly close out a show and linger in the mind for a long time to come. Whilst taking more from their own sound than Four Year Strong’s, this works perfectly.
Overall, the album feels like a throwback to what got fans hooked to begin with in the beginning as well as giving more recent fans something they can enjoy and have come to expect. Whilst the band have definitely matured over the last decade, which is very clear in their music, you can still hear the classic New York pop punk sound clinging on in there and refusing to be silenced and this has and continue to resonate with listeners. The quartet have established themselves as heavyweights within the scene and this album will continue to boost their stock in a market that is massively on the rise and looks almost certain to reach the hights many thought would never happen again.
Words by Thomas Maclachlan
