State Champs: Kings of the New Age
State Champs are staking their claim in pop-punk history with their brand new 4th studio album, Kings Of The New Age, out now via Pure Noise Records.
Kicking off the album with Here To Stay the band make a statement, “It’s safe to say, we’re here to stay”. The track tells the story of emerging into the pop punk scene and how they fought through hard times. It’s really kind of an anthem of perseverance. Sonically it is a track that is going to have listeners jumping around and singing right back at the band.
Eventually carries an emotion and theme of trying to escape things but how those things always seem to catch back up to us. The track’s sound is going to be what you have come to expect from State Champs not straying too far from the comfort zone of their songwriting, that being said they don’t need to experiment too much because this track hits all the boxes.
One of the tracks released as a single prior to the album is, Everybody But You. This track is a quintessential pop punk track. The story of a failed relationship, the angst, the “fuck it” mentality, and infectious energy. Featuring Ben Barlow of Neck Deep on guest vocals this song is truly an anthem for anyone that is ready to let go of a toxic relationship and just have fun with friends and get out of their head. The video features cameos from longtime friends of the band, including actor and fellow pop-punk artist Tyler Posey, lil aaron, and the Story So Far’s Kelen Capener and more.
Outta My Head is up next and hits the listener with some of the catchiest guitar riffs they are likely to find today. I think this song was a good choice for a pre-release single as it is probably one of the most “familiar” tracks for listeners. If you’ve ever heard anything from the band previously you would pick up immediately that this is that band.
Coming in next with Fake It the band hits on that feeling when you don’t feel right inside, feeling empty but putting up that front and faking smiles so everyone else thinks everything is ok. Sonically this is another track that is going to have fans moving at a show.
Half Empty ft. Chrissy Costanza is possibly my favorite track on the album. While the track does stray a little from what the stereotypical thought what State Champs normally sounds like, it is done in a beautiful way. Lyrically the song is a little sappy, but its a feeling that the majority of listeners will be able to relate to. Then add in the vocal powerhouse Chrissy Costanza of Against The Current and you are taken to a level that the band has never really explored before.
Next up is another pre-release single, Just Sound. Another track that is undeniably State Champs, high energy, catchy lyrics, and a video paying homage to Bob Ross, what’s not to love?
Another step outside of the “norm” for the band is Act Like That which features country pop’s Mitchell Tenpenny. Listeners will pick up easily on the different sound for this track, but again it is a calculated move by the band.
Where Were You brings the energy level back up. The chorus is definitely going to be chanted back at the band at every performance. When listening to the album you can feel the anticipation building up as the end of the album nears.
I think it says a lot about where your band is viewed and “ranked” in the scene when you get to have pop punk icons Four Year Strong on a track. That’s exactly what we get with Sundress. The track is a love song but with the pop punk twist. It’s got good energy and a hook that will sink into any listeners.
Closing the album with Some Minds Don’t Change is a real power move. Clearly a song about a relationship but also kind of a message to anyone that gave up on the band not seeing what they are capable of. “You had no patience to see what’s in store” is a line that I think is going to resonate with fans and new listeners as they apply it to their own life when thinking of someone that gave up on them before a great thing came to fruition.
It may be a bold statement to some, but I think this is an early frontrunner for the pop punk album of the year. Calling the album Kings Of The New Age may sound arrogant or conceited but I think it is more of a revelation that pop punk is in a different place now and while there are certainly a lot of legends in the scene, there is a new era of artists coming through. I would say it’s hard to argue that State Champs aren’t the “Kings Of The New Era”, and this album is an open challenge for someone to prove them wrong, or give them the crown.
Kings Of The New Age Tracklist
1. Here To Stay
2. Eventually
3. Everybody But You (ft. Ben Barlow)
4. Outta My Head
5. Fake It
6. Half Empty (ft. Chrissy Costanza)
7. Just Sound
8. Act Like That (ft. Mitchell Tenpenny)
9. Where Were You
10. Sundress (ft. Four Year Strong)
11. Some Minds Don’t Change