History
Formation and It's Our Time (2001–2006)
Rise or Die Trying, Explains It All (2006–2009)
The band's 2007 release Rise or Die Trying with I Surrender Records peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart in its debut week. On the back of their increasing popularity, the band was signed to Decaydance Records in February 2008.
On July 21, 2009, Four Year Strong released an album of covers from the 1990s, titled Explains It All. The album features guest appearances from Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die, Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, and JR and Buddy of Less Than Jake. The band explained their reasoning behind the album in a MySpace blog, saying "It’s what we grew up listening to. Everyone has those songs that instantly transport you back to when you were younger. Whether we were in our bedrooms playing air guitar, or riding in the car to little league practice, or it was just that song that was all over the radio during that awesome summer at the Cape. These songs have impacted us in some way and we want to share that feeling with you."
Enemy of the World (2010)
The band's 3rd full-length album, Enemy of the World, was released on March 9, 2010 on Universal Motown Records. The band released the album's first single, "It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now", on December 21, 2009. The name of the song is a reference to the final sentence of a review in Alternative Press in which the magazine praised Set Your Goals' new album while remarking on the future of Four Year Strong and how their record would compare. The vinyl record was made available to pre-order on March 2, 2010. The album sold 12,400 copies in its first week, debuting at number 40 on the Billboard 200.
On April 3, 2011, it was announced that Josh Lyford would be leaving the band. Initially, it was implied that Lyford had chosen to leave in order to focus on his side project, Foxfires. However, it was later confirmed by both Lyford and Alan Day, that the band had elected to remove synthesizers from their sound leaving no room for Lyford to continue. The band has said they will continue as a four piece.
In Some Way, Shape or Form (2011–present)
On April 13, 2011, in an interview with Alternative Press, the band revealed that they had been in the middle of recording their fourth studio album with producer David Bendeth in New Jersey's House of Loud. The band is set to return to the studio, without Josh Lyford, to finish the album in June, after they finish touring with Rise Against. Vocalist Alan Day has also revealed that the new songs the band had written were very diverse, and that the new material is different than anything the band has ever written. While touring with Rise Against, they have been playing a newly recorded, yet unreleased song called "Falling on You".
On August 18, 2011, the band released "Stuck in the Middle", a new song from the upcoming album. The band announced that the new album will be titled In Some Way, Shape, or Form, and will be released on November 8, 2011. On September 8, 2011, the band released another song from the album, entitled "Falling on You." The first official single from the album, "Just Drive", is set for release on September 27, 2011
During the Fall 2011 AP Tour, the band played another new unreleased song which will be released on the upcoming album. The band dedicates it to fans who have been there "from the very beginning, and will be there till the very end." a video of the song has been leaked on YouTube. It is called "Fairweather Fan."
Touring
The band has done multiple national tours, sharing the stage with such bands as The Starting Line, Slip On It, Hellogoodbye, From First to Last, Every Time I Die, Meg & Dia, Hidden in Plain View, Alexisonfire, All Time Low, Mayday Parade, New Found Glory, Bayside and Steel Train. The band toured in February–April 2009 as part of the Taste of Chaos tour, alongside Thursday, Bring Me the Horizon, Pierce the Veil, and Cancer Bats. They undertook the Summer co-headline tour with Set Your Goals, and also Fireworks, The Swellers, Polar Bear Club, A Loss For Words, Drive A and Grave Maker from July to August 2009. Four Year Strong also performed on the Australian Soundwave festival in February and March 2010, alongside headliners Faith No More, Janes Addiction, Placebo; also playing alongside Alexisonfire, Set Your Goals, A Day To Remember, Paramore, It Dies Today, Gallows, Emarosa, A Wilhelm Scream, Anthrax, All Time Low, Escape The Fate, This Is Hell, Enter Shikari, Anti-Flag, Baroness, Comeback Kid, The Almost, Dance Gavin Dance, Architects, You Me At Six, Rolo Tomassi, Dichi Michi, Sunny Day Real Estate and many more. The band was in the lineup for Vans Warped Tour 2010 and played on the Altec Lansing stage along side Breathe Carolina, Hey Monday, and Set Your Goals.[7] They also played the first day on the Bamboozle festival. Late 2010, Four Year Strong headlined a tour with Comeback Kid, The Wonder Years, American Fangs, and Mountain Man. The tour was entitled "Tonight We Feel Alive!", and spanned the entire United States. In February 2011, Four Year Strong co-headlined the Kerrang! Relentless Tour 2011 with Good Charlotte with support from Framing Hanley and The Wonder Years, The tour began February 3rd in Dublin, Ireland. On the 15th February 2011 it was announced that they had been added to support Blink 182 on their UK tour alongside You Me At Six They will be joining Rise Against and Bad Religion on a US summer tour in 2011. They have also announced that they will come back to Australia later in the year to play Soundwave Revolution along with already announced bands The Damned Things, Story of The Year, Every Time I Die, Hellogoodbye, We Are The In Crowd and many others. They still have yet to announce an upcoming Detroit show. It is long overdue.
Musical style
The band's sound can be described as popcore a blend of pop punk, hardcore punk, and power pop. This genre is popularly referred to as "easycore" or "happycore". The band simply developed their sound off the idea of playing 'exactly what they want to hear' or music that they would listen to, but no one else was playing at the time.[8] The band has cited their influences as being Lifetime, Saves the Day, Gorilla Biscuits, Blink-182, and New Found Glory, to name a few. Though the band would primarily start out as a post-hardcore , the release of their demo in 2004 would mark a shift from post-hardcore to more synthesizer-heavy tracks, where the band would begin to embrace the styles of power pop and general hardcore punk. Prior to the release of and at times within Rise or Die Trying, the band also incorporates more facets of modern hardcore, such as double bass drums, breakdowns and screaming vocals. For their 3rd studio album, Enemy of the World, the band decided to expand upon their hardcore influences.
Influences
The band has many references to 1990's pop culture. They have been known to quote lines from '90s films in lyrics/song titles/ and in conversation. They were influenced by all the bands on their cover album Explains It All.
Crazy Pills
Four Year Strong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
or if the rattling in my head
is just another mind game that you're playingBut I got to know, am I just another domino,laying on the ground, that you set up just to knock down?There's only one way to settle the scoreCuz I've been Waiting at the backdoorDon't make me break it downI'm not waiting for you anymoreI've always been the one to stick aroundWhat am I waiting for?No, I'm not waiting for you anymoreI never know exactly where you're headingBut you always seem to take us to the brink of ArmageddonBut I got to know, is there something in the afterglow?I Guess ill wait and seeDoes he really burn as bright as me?I think I'm losing control
The lyrics of Four Year Strong's song "Crazy Pills" explore themes of confusion, doubt, and the struggle for control in a relationship. The singer questions their own sanity, wondering if the chaotic thoughts in their head are a result of their partner's manipulative mind games. They express a desire to understand their worth in the relationship, questioning if they are just another pawn being used and discarded. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and a longing to break free from the cycle of waiting and uncertainty.
The line "Waiting at the backdoor" symbolizes the singer's anticipation of their partner's actions or decisions, suggesting that they have been patiently waiting for their partner's validation or commitment. However, they declare that they are no longer willing to wait for someone who does not value or appreciate them. They express a sense of self-realization, stating that they have always been the one to stick around but are questioning why they have continued to do so.
The lyrics also depict the singer's struggle to understand their partner's intentions. They acknowledge that their partner often leads them to the edge of disaster, bringing them close to Armageddon, but they are unsure if there is something genuine in the aftermath, in the "afterglow." They question if their partner's love and passion for them is as intense and real as their own. The lyrics hint at the singer's feelings of insecurity and fear of losing control in the relationship.
Overall, "Crazy Pills" delves into the complexities of a troubled relationship, exploring themes of doubt, self-reflection, and the desire for clarity and control.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone tell me if I'm going crazy
Please confirm if I'm losing my mind
or if the rattling in my head
or if the chaos in my thoughts
is just another mind game that you're playing
is another manipulation tactic you're using
But I got to know, am I just another domino, laying on the ground, that you set up just to knock down?
But I need to understand, am I just a pawn in your game, waiting to be used and discarded?
There's only one way to settle the score
There's only one way to find closure
Cuz I've been Waiting at the backdoor
Because I've been patiently waiting for an answer
Don't make me break it down
Please don't force me to analyze it further
I'm not waiting for you anymore
I'm no longer waiting for you
I've always been the one to stick around
I have always been the person who remains loyal
What am I waiting for?
What is the purpose of my wait?
No, I'm not waiting for you anymore
No, I have stopped waiting for you
I never know exactly where you're heading
I never truly understand your intentions
But you always seem to take us to the brink of Armageddon
But you always lead us dangerously close to destruction
But I got to know, is there something in the afterglow?
But I need to know, is there anything substantial after the chaos?
I Guess ill wait and see
I suppose I will wait with uncertainty
Does he really burn as bright as me?
Does he truly have the same intensity as me?
I think I'm losing control
I believe I am losing my ability to manage the situation
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Joseph Weiss, Jackson Massucco, Daniel O'Connor, Alan Day
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Atif Matc
By far the best track of the album. Pumped me up for my exercise daily. Off 5 kgs due to this track. love you guys!
iukuify
Eyyy same!! Always play this before a tough set
Julian Rahmansyah
Man, this is crazy af! Love this so much! My fav song in this album!
facgce
This album is insane
Josh Barnes
This. This is what we wanted from FYS. That's a tasty fucking riff.
Rex Xanthis
OMFG im going through a fucked up time in my life!
Thankyou FYS for this !!! i needed this album!... :P
Alex Retro
This might be their best album since Rise Or Die Trying
Skylar Saenz
And arguably better.
Raptor102
This song and The Worst Part About Me have got to be my favorites on this album.
Dylan Randall
Same!