Rise Or Die Trying

Four Year Strong, Four Year Strong | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: I Surrender Records
• ASIN: B000UVLSVO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,061 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #49 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Hardcore
  • #80 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Emo

Editorial Reviews

Born and bred in Worcester, Ma_s.chusetts, Four Year Strong blend catchy pop guitars with chugging breakdowns, bringing to ...see site for more info.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Causing Trouble Is Our Business, And The Business Is Good!, January 24, 2008

By 

LeftManOut (TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rise Or Die Trying (Audio CD)

What better line could encapsulate this recording then the very line mentioned within the second verse of "Prepare To Be Digitally Manipulated?" Because it seems that with a record like this Four Year Strong is geared to cause more than their fair-share of trouble.

A quick synopsis of the band? Take the mosh-hardcore rhythms of a band like Bury Your Dead (of whom Guitarist and Vocalist Dan O' Connor was previously a member), the melodic hooks of New Found Glory, the symphonic elements of a band like Reggie And The Full Effect, and a lethal dosage of humor, throw them all in a blender and then crank the juice. That's not some overly-pretentious analogy description either, that's really what these guys sound like.

Although they've had a string of releases coming before this album (name 2005's "It's Our Time"), "Rise or Die Trying" is most officially regarded as FYS's debut effort. And what an effort it is. 11 songs of pure catchiness, balanced by a backdrop of hardcore ethic and attitude, and a demeanor that doesn't really take themselves too seriously. The listener can tell these guys love what they do, and they have such a great chemistry together because of that.

So after the brief but successful introduction track "The Takeover," "Prepare To Be Digitally Manipulated" comes out the gates strong with its beefy guitars and instantly catchy synth parts. Dan O'Connor and Alan Day both see a fair share of time on the mic, and their trade-off dynamic allows for many songs like "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Hell" and "Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die" to keep a fast pace, yet never seemed rushed or sloppy. Their guitar parts aren't too shabby either, combining bits of metal, punk, hardcore and emo all very precisely. Jake Mancusso's drums are fantastic, and never has a double-bass pedal seemed so fitting on a pop-punk record. Add in Josh Lyford's creative (but not overused) synth patterns and Joe Weiss' bass (highly prominent during the softer guitar parts) and the band everything they need to be successful.

As with most records of this type, song strength is importance. And boy do Four Year Strong have that. Every single track on this record could be an instant hit, and even within these 11 songs there's plenty of range. There's more hardcore-tinged hitters (happier hardcore of course) like "Beatdown in The Key of Happy" and "Maniac (R.O.D)" to satisfy even the most elite listeners, whereas songs like "Catastrophe" and "Bada Bing! Wit A Pipe!" could easily have broad appeal. There's not a single second of filler to be found here, which is pretty impressive seeing as how many records of this same type tend to have a few standout songs and then maybe the rest just filling space. Not here. This records has 11 standout tracks.

"Rise or Die Trying" is highly recommended for fans of hardcore-influenced-pop-punk like Set Your Goals, New Found Glory, Daggermouth or the Movielife. Once spin in your cd player will be enough to ensure that this will be racking up hours of your life for some time to come. It has already ruined mine (in a good way of course!) Also look into their first full length "It's Our Time." Enjoy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars absolutely amazing, August 6, 2008

By 

L. Hendrick "Lewis" (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rise Or Die Trying (Audio CD)

This one of the best albums i have ever played in my life. I discovered four year strong a couple months ago on purevolume and havent stoped listening since. This is a spectacle of happy hardcore at its best. The live shows are even more amazing. The guitars and double bass driven drums pound while the vocals are on point. The lyrics are on another level. This music will have you moshing with your buddies and screaming the lyrics till your voice is gone. Buy this album.. or buy ten and give them to your friends and family. Even grandma approves.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing., June 11, 2011

By 

Ben - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rise Or Die Trying (Audio CD)

By far the best pop-punk/melodic hardcore album of 2007, if not the last decade! There is no album I can more highly recommend. For fans of Set Your Goals & A Day to Remember.