| | Full Review | Ratings (915) |
Give your Rating |
| 4.0 excellent | Kenyu Osuke | June 2nd 08 |
I really hate that most people think this album should be rated so low. Sure, they sound like Set Your Goals and are pretty much pop-punk with sort of misplaced breakdowns - but they're intense, and they do it well. About how people say this album is "too overproduced", I don't know why people are so averse to an album sounding GOOD. The general consensus seems to be that an album has to SOUND DIY to be good. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather listen to a nicely recorded record than something that sounds like it was recorded with a computer microphone with no mixing or mastering involved in a one of the band members' basements with mattresses lining the wall to serve as acoustical padding. It sickens me that a band with this much talent and intensity can be put down by so many for such petty and superficial reasons.
Personally, I LOVE Four Year Strong and can't wait to see them live again, even though they have a habit of playing things WAY too fast on stage.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Risodo | April 12th 18 |
"Rise Or Die Trying" is a genuine Pop-Punk record and we can't ask for anything more than that. Many people may feel bothered with the cheerful and sometimes childish sound of the band, but that's exactly what they want you to listen. Good songs like "Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die" and "Maniac (R.O.D.)" add an extra taste to the likes of Hardcore fans. The cover art is pretty good too, but the highlight of this work is the name of the songs.
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| 3.5 great | NoSons | February 22nd 14 |
This album is great. The sound is erratic and youthful and overall a very fun, happy album.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | jcismulti | November 8th 13 |
Fun fast pop punk album with breakdowns, but ultimately the songs become indistinguishable and you wonder when it is going to end. However, at the same time it's super addicting and catchy
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| 4.0 excellent | IAmKickass | July 29th 11 |
Four Year Strong are one of the strongest breaths of fresh air I've ever had the opportunity to breathe in, and Rise or Die Trying is not an easy album to forget about. There is never a dull moment presented here, this is a group that knows how to bring a ridiculous amount of energy and creativity to the pop-punk genre and just might as well become one of the great pioneers of the genre.
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| 0.0 | PorceleinDoll | April 7th 11 |
I've been listening to this band quite a bit lately. They're pretty cool in ways I never expected a pop-hardcore band to be.
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| 4.0 excellent | DAVECATAZ | June 27th 09 |
Four Year Strong show's signs of being able to be great. But their hard core "edge" is majorly dulled by the sheer poppy-ness of most of this record. Seriously, border line bubble gum.
Hopefully they have matured a bit for their next full length. I'm not holding my breath though.
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| 4.0 excellent | zao89 | April 22nd 08 |
The latest band to be signed to Pete Wentz's Decaydence Records, FYS combine the pop-punk sound of Fall Out Boy and the hardcore breakdowns and 2-step riffs heard in most modern metalcore/hardcore bands (hence the BYD reference, although it should be noted FYS guitarist/frontman Dan O'Connor was once part of the very same band). If you were to listen to a FYS song for the first time, the first thing that would come to mind is, "another Fall Out Boy sounding band?", but by the end, you will have heard a band like no other.
Amidst the use of regular band instruments, there is the use of synths, though not uncommon in modern music, rare in pop-punk bands (sure, theres Motion City Soundtrack and Hellogoodbye, but nobody listens to them, right?). The vocal aspect to FYS is similar to FOB. Both singers are in the higher range, and sing about anything (but mostly girls, although I dont think FYS is trying to appeal to 13 year old teenyboppers).
If you dont like Fall Out Boy, you probably wont like this band (unless you're a fan of melodic hardcore). I prefer the music on this album over their previous efforts, because this album includes more of that harcore sound that seperates them from other pop-punk bands. I would have liked this album more if it had more screaming (the only screaming on the album was done by ex-BYD vocalist Mat Bruso, on 'Prepare To Be Digitally Manupulated'), although the gang vocal parts make up for that loss. They should have had better use of keyboard parts (instead of lead, why not try some more strings, or possible a piano interlude?), and more usage, too.
8/10
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| 4.0 excellent | dballs | December 14th 22 |
| 3.5 great | legunek | September 6th 22 |
| 3.5 great | Atari STAFF | April 27th 22 |
| 3.5 great | BeeRyan | December 27th 21 |
| 2.5 average | Watch | December 16th 21 |
| 2.5 average | Trebor. EMERITUS | May 7th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Luna | April 2nd 21 |
| 2.5 average | Runeii | November 30th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Skiiddz | October 15th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | vult | February 28th 20 |
| 3.0 good | ian b | February 12th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | benny06 | January 10th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | keza | May 21st 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sarah | May 13th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Adamn | May 8th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jdub621 | February 28th 19 |
| 3.8 excellent | Erwann S. STAFF | January 27th 19 |
| 2.0 poor | jw | November 5th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | wonton | September 21st 18 |
| 2.5 average | Rdv | December 5th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | krypis | August 30th 17 |
| 3.5 great | tellah | August 3rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh F. | July 26th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jake E. | June 22nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Smorge | May 7th 17 |
| 2.5 average | ian b. | May 6th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | jesper STAFF | April 26th 17 |
| 3.5 great | elry2k | April 15th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | dvd0bvb | March 2nd 17 |
| 3.5 great | chris. | February 22nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Adamrk | December 16th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | WBalls | October 23rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | KMassam | September 30th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Illume | August 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | YANJ | June 15th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | random | June 10th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Shamus248 CONTRIBUTOR | April 16th 16 |
| 2.5 average | seifer | April 16th 16 |
| 3.0 good | JS19 | October 11th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dmax28 | September 30th 15 |
| 3.5 great | TheC00n | September 4th 15 |
| 3.0 good | TBH717 | August 11th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | RYANGP | June 24th 15 |
| 3.5 great | Dylan | June 10th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Xardra | June 2nd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | gujubuu | April 18th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | naponte | April 15th 15 |
| 3.5 great | t1gxrs | March 22nd 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Bawub | March 18th 15 |
| 3.5 great | xxld1k | September 8th 14 |
| 3.0 good | jfirak | August 16th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Arctick | August 10th 14 |
| 3.5 great | Fujay | July 30th 14 |
| 3.5 great | Surtur | July 28th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | TJM1992 | July 24th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | AndrewN | July 21st 14 |
| 3.5 great | Haon | May 3rd 14 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | April 2nd 14 |
| 4.5 superb | brollin | December 20th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | G0atC0re | December 19th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Hick | December 16th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | djken97 | December 2nd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Minus. | September 20th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lefondre | September 19th 13 |
| 3.0 good | SMUD | July 18th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | mew151 | June 27th 13 |
| 3.5 great | RFO13 | April 13th 13 |
| 3.0 good | Pox | March 20th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Halzy31 | December 24th 12 |
| 3.5 great | ZoneOut | December 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Silas | December 16th 12 |
| 3.0 good | NBA | December 9th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Pndi | November 6th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Noteros | November 4th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | mcjor | September 24th 12 |
| 3.5 great | RobH | July 7th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Trail | June 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | SoxRock | April 5th 12 |
| 3.0 good | DylanP | March 31st 12 |
| 3.0 good | dgrona | February 13th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Duted | February 9th 12 |
| 2.5 average | mttgry | January 22nd 12 |
| 3.0 good | ILJ | January 7th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Saturday | December 28th 11 |
| 3.5 great | KUBT | December 12th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bfd | November 22nd 11 |
| 3.0 good | jlech | November 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mandais | November 20th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Sirob | November 14th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Prag | November 7th 11 |
| 3.0 good | JAKERR | November 5th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pharoh | October 28th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | mhp2 | October 19th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Vyndax | October 15th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Intake | October 2nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | Dirk32 | September 14th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Bloom | September 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hook | August 29th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Tatou | August 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | sturta | June 8th 11 |
| 3.5 great | AdamK | May 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | MRxT | May 10th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | saucy | April 25th 11 |
| 3.0 good | NateT | April 14th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Ghor47 | April 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | NoemieY | April 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | szea426 | April 2nd 11 |
| 2.5 average | Curse. | March 25th 11 |
| 1.5 very poor | Remer17 | February 23rd 11 |
| 3.5 great | derekkp | February 22nd 11 |
| 3.0 good | bears | February 12th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Repta | February 2nd 11 |
| 5.0 classic | peterRS | December 20th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | iamnot | December 20th 10 |
| 3.5 great | kezia93 | December 16th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | P2008J | December 9th 10 |
| 3.5 great | d00derz | November 24th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Epic | November 21st 10 |
| 3.5 great | DaveyBoy EMERITUS | October 23rd 10 |
| 3.5 great | X3ni92 | October 21st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | TheCore | October 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | bth2376 | October 13th 10 |
| 3.5 great | LaNuit | October 6th 10 |
| 3.5 great | IN64 | October 2nd 10 |
| 3.0 good | Spec | September 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | CutMan | September 25th 10 |
| 3.5 great | BorisC | September 24th 10 |
| 3.5 great | dav4550 | September 23rd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | garyhann | September 10th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | TheJack | July 11th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Isoas | July 1st 10 |
| 3.0 good | Mace | June 16th 10 |
| 3.5 great | lakku | May 27th 10 |
| 3.5 great | jBoo | May 24th 10 |
| 3.0 good | cvlts | May 19th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | punchkid | February 17th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | ThePove | January 4th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Slobo | January 2nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | shuffly | January 2nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kmathews | December 20th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | jmae1101 | December 15th 09 |
| 3.5 great | TBliss | December 4th 09 |
| 3.0 good | mjr20 | November 29th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Yay | October 23rd 09 |
| 3.5 great | Ricven | October 15th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Celtam | October 11th 09 |
| 3.5 great | mar1s | September 26th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Metalz | September 22nd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | jfxlulz | September 16th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Hakari | August 26th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jim18 | June 9th 09 |
| 2.5 average | po0ty | May 18th 09 |
| 3.5 great | GBJ | May 14th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | DTJesus | February 16th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | postmo | February 12th 09 |
| 2.5 average | Wongeh | January 17th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | chubbles | December 28th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | blurkom | December 23rd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Ciattk | December 21st 08 |
| 3.5 great | GregBP | December 19th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Sushi23 | December 13th 08 |
| 3.5 great | CxLTxN | December 3rd 08 |
| 3.0 good | Jayzz | October 2nd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | ACM | September 29th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | xbearx | September 29th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | sneasy | September 10th 08 |
| 2.5 average | btbam99 | August 28th 08 |
| 3.5 great | lan | August 4th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | tarik28 | July 14th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Smooz | May 21st 08 |
| 3.0 good | twiik | April 28th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | coke | March 13th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | cxtz1808 | February 25th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | TimmyK | October 11th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | c0nf1n3d | September 27th 07 |
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