As far as pop-punk goes, one would be hard-pressed to find a more consistent and prolific band than Florida quintet, New Found Glory. Throughout their decade and a half career, New Found Glory has done more than just turn heads; they have turned out hits, hooks, and seven records. The group’s newest release, Radiosurgery, is yet another stellar entry into the band’s catalogue.

Radiosurgery is New Found Glory’s most hook-laden, pop-tinged release since 2004’s Catalyst. In many ways, Radiosurgery may be the poppiest record the group has ever crafted. One listen to “Summer Fling, Don’t Mean A Thing”, where lead vocalist Jordan Pundik croons on the infectious chorus, “When you need a boy around you // just for the summer // don’t come knocking on my door”, should undoubtedly verify this fact. This does not mean that the band has reverted back to an immature sound. Rather, Radiosurgery is a sophisticated pop-punk record, if there could ever be such a thing. Quick hitting—the entire record takes just under thirty-four minutes to get through—and simplistic, New Found Glory prove that even as the next wave of pop-punk talent takes center stage, the thirty-somethings can still write a superior hook. Lead single “Radiosurgery” blasts the record off, leaving the listener in a Green Day trance prior to launching into a quintessential New Found Glory chorus. “Anthem For The Unwanted,” the unrivaled star of the record, and “Ready, Aim, Fire!” are sure crowd-pleasers, highlighted by the passionate percussion work of drummer Cyrus Bolooki and employing several chants of “woo-ooh” which is certain to induce a pleasant panic among concert goers.

There is no denying that when comparing New Found Glory’s most recent albums, 2006’s experimental Coming Home and the group’s aggressive 2009’s Not Without A Fight to the band’s earlier and more commercially successful releases, Radiosurgery has far more in common with the group’s Sticks And Stones-era. Alas, a major difference between Sticks And Stones and Radiosurgery is Pundik’s vastly enhanced vocals. Sure, he still sings with a nasal delivery, but his range and clarity has improved in leaps and bounds. On “Drill It In My Brain” Pundik delivers with a passionate, yet accessible, chorus and breakdown. Lyrically, Radiosurgery, takes on subjects revolving around NFG-staples such as girls, friends, and partying. “I wanna kiss you so hard that your lips bleed // and I hold you so tight that your ribs break” Pundik sings on “Memories And Battle Scars,” “But in the end we’ll both know who we are // a body full of memories and battle scars.” At times, the lyrics falter (“Trainwreck”), but for the most part, Radiosurgery is lyrically adequate.

It is difficult imagining New Found Glory releasing anything so vastly inferior as to appall fans. Where Not Without A Fight sounds safe at times, Radiosurgery finds New Found Glory taking chances. Of course, with risk there is always the possibility of a misstep or two (“I’m Not The One” is entirely too cluttered, while album closer, “Map Of Your Body” is rather bland) but at least the Floridians are attempting to push their own sound into new realms. Radiosurgery will not go down as a genre-bending release by any stretch of the imagination. Nor will it even go down as New Found Glory’s preeminent album; Sticks And Stones still holds that crown. Yet, what Radiosurgery proves is that New Found Glory still does pop-punk better than the overwhelming majority of groups out there today. 

★★★.5/★★★★★

*This review was composed by Mike Meeze