Four Year Strong show that growing up can be tricky on their fourth album,
In Some Way, Shape, or Form. For the newly minted quartet, growing up involves cutting the synthesizers out of the mix, and it’s a change that finds the band returning as a tighter, more serious-sounding unit. One of
Four Year Strong’s most charming elements was their infectious pop energy, a feeling that came through their music even as they pushed it in an increasingly hardcore-influenced direction. Now the band pushes even further into hardcore waters with a sound that's decidedly more mature, focusing less on good-times pop-punk and more on driving, melodic hardcore. This sea change definitely marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band, and while fans might need some time to adjust to this more stern, reflective sound, they have to expect that, sooner or later, everybody grows up. ~ Gregory Heaney