Shortly after the debut of “Stuck in the Middle,” a clever portmanteau incensed the lips of eager listeners who had readily prepared to flip the instant repeat switch. Due to the song’s edgy verses, loud anthemic chorus, coupled with striking vocal similarities to Dave Grohl, fans welcomed in Foo Year Strong, a playful moniker to the band’s real name, Four Year Strong. Not unknown to the art of genre charades, the Bostonian quartet mapped the blueprint to an infectious style of pop-punk tailored to hardcore hooks. But the pastime was handcuffed to the floor, bound, and gagged to showcase a more lasting alternative rock sound. No lyrical line could fittingly describe the bold metamorphosis quite like Dan O’Connor’s “So today I’m waking up to find that all I held inside wasn’t worth it” right before the track explodes into a sweaty combustion of chiming guitars and vocal overlays that cry absolute thunder in the name of David Bendeth’s production skills. And although one Twitter user self-assuredly mocks, “Looking forward to how many Chad Kroeger (Nickelback) co-writes will be on the new Four Year Strong record,” that wobbly high-wire known to short circuit bands who have spread themselves thin straightened itself out for these budding rock artists.

★★★★★

*This review was composed by Dre Okorley