State Champs - Kings of the New Age (May 13, 2022)

1. Here To Stay
2. Eventually
3. Everybody But You
4. Outta My Head
5. Fake It
6. Half Empty
7. Just Sound
8. Act Like That
9. Where Were You
10. Sundress
11. Some Minds Don’t Change

 

Here for it

 

Just a heads up, the site I use for information mentions four features on this album.

Besides Barlow from Neck Deep on "Everybody But You", Chrissy Costanza from Against The Current is on "Half Empty", Mitchell Tenpenny is on "Act Like That", and Four Year Strong is on "Sundress".

 

Cant wait. Hope they dial it up this record.

 

so excited for this new record

 

Pre-orders: https://purenoise.merchnow.com/collections/kings-of-the-new-age

 

I dig it. Reminds me of Seaway kinda.

 

This didn’t grab me immediately but i’ll give it a few more listens before putting together an opinion on it

 

Hot.

 

gave it a listen out of curiosity since they were my favs in high school, but i’ve grown too out of there sound i guess. will give the album a listen though

 

Pretty cool, it's fun pop-punk. Will be great for the summer.

 

Out Of My Head and Just Sound reminds me of stuff straight off Around The World and Back.

Last album major weakness was that there was too much going. I really enjoy that album too.

 

not gonna try to suggest that they've ever had particularly deep or introspective lyrics but this is a real step down in that department for them

sonically this sounds like it could go on all time low's 'nothing personal' or 'dirty work', and it would be a mid track on those albums

 

As a 35 year old man with 4 kids, I realize I'm not the target demographic, but I still always have a soft spot for catchy-ass pop punk and this has been stuck in my head for a day now after only 2 listens. Don't love the Ben Barlow feature and the lyrics/video obviously don't resonate with me much, but it's' definitely fun and catchy

 

I like the throwback artwork, I always love what these guys do and while I don't really like these songs too much I felt the same way with the pre release singles on the last album and now I love all those

 

I'm sorry, but this track is awful. They've clearly (and fittingly?) taken some inspiration from new Neck Deep in those lyrics...

"Everybody but you chillin at the get together, said it wouldn’t last forever, oh whatever, here’s the best bad news Kelly said she didn’t even really like you" this is some She's a God-tier writing.

 

The new age of State Champs: “This album is us saying: ‘Hey, we’ve been doing this for a long time and we’re f*cking good at it’” — Kerrang!

this kerrang interview with derek sheds a bit more light on the new direction - this quote in particular:

"We’re not getting any younger but we had to find a way to come back and love what we do. To love this youthful, nostalgic music that we make. So we didn’t wanna take ourselves seriously this time around; we wanted to have fun and let loose, and show a bit of immaturity and rule-breaking. That’s what Kings Of The New Age is.”

a very deliberate step away from maturing their output

 

Kind of a bummer imo. The new tracks are catchy, but feel pretty elementary compared to the last album.

 

New track “Eventually” really dives into the “Dirty Work” pool.

As a guy who defends that record, I’m ok with it. It’s an absolute earworm and everything from the EP is gonna sound fun as hell live.

 

Yeah the song slaps. Drum parts are fun as hell, and I'm in love with the guitar tone in the intro. The chorus isn't as strong as most Champs songs, but this is probably one of the best vocal performances of Derek's career.

 

Really good drum shots on this. I agree, this is propulsive and super fun, as seems to be the MO for this record.

They have never had a full album click for me, but this is 4/4 on singles not counting the Ben feature on EBY. Much like Tobias Fünke, I hope they haven’t shot their wad on what was supposed to be a dry run by releasing all these bangers first.

 

damn they got me on this one

loving it from the first listen

 

this music video didn't need to exist at all though lol