Two years after the business-as-usual
Future Hearts, hitherto pop-punk quartet
All Time Low make a surprising shift on their seventh set,
Last Young Renegade. Much like similar moves by contemporaries
Fall Out Boy and
Paramore, it's a late-era switch that finds the band expanding its sound into pop-oriented territory where synths and dance beats roam. Influenced by
David Bowie,
Prince, and the sounds of the '80s,
Renegade is
All Time Low's attempt at sonic maturation, which pays off with much satisfaction. This is a focused collection of intense emotional energy, but vocal effects, programmed beats, and atmospheric production take center stage instead of raucous riffs and pounding drums. Fans of their classic sound may be left wanting, but enough of that punk attitude remains, preventing this album from being a total curve ball. "Last Young Renegade" and "Dark Side of Your Room" combine
Fall Out Boy with the stylings of indie bands like
Walk the Moon or
Atlas Genius, while "Good Times" recalls the peppiest output from
the All-American Rejects and
Plain White T's. Venturing even further into the mainstream, "Life of the Party," "Afterglow," and "Ground Control" tackle the arena-sized pop/rock of
OneRepublic and
the 1975. The latter cut is one of the many highlights, recruiting
Tegan and Sara for a touching and shimmering collaboration. While the majority of
Renegade is cut from the same pop cloth, "Nice2KnoU" is a knowing gift to the faithful -- the album's lone punk blast -- an old-school, pogoing floor-shaker sure to please diehards. As the track chugs along, frontman
Alex Gaskarth sings "We can't go back to yesterday...One last time for old time's sake." It's a clear declaration from a group with a mission. While they acknowledge their roots,
All Time Low have their sights set on the road ahead.
Last Young Renegade is that first brave step on a journey where studio sheen and cross-genre influences embellish their ever youthful spirit. ~ Neil Z. Yeung