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Go Down in History
The EP's title in red letters next to the band's logo, both in front of a grey background
EP by
Four Year Strong
ReleasedJuly 22, 2014 (2014-07-22)
RecordedEarly 2014
StudioThe Machine Shop, New Jersey
GenrePop punk
Length16:36
LabelPure Noise
ProducerMachine
Four Year Strong chronology
In Some Way, Shape, or Form
(2011) 		Go Down in History
(2014) 		Four Year Strong
(2015)

Go Down in History is an EP by American rock band Four Year Strong. It features the first new material from the band since their 2011 album, In Some Way, Shape, or Form.

Background

Four Year Strong released In Some Way, Shape, or Form (2011) through Republic Records-imprint Universal Motown.[1] With the album, the group attempt to explore territory they thought their fans would enjoy; however, they received a negative reaction to it.[2] Following this, the band were moved to Motown's parent label, away from the staff members that had signed them to the label. They eventually parted ways with the company and spent time with their respective families.[1] Vocalist/guitarist Alan Day started the side project The Here and Now, bassist Joe Weiss operated a woodworking company, and vocalist/guitarist Dan O'Connor worked on his house.[3]

They eventually reconvened for a writing session; all of the tracks evolved from jam sessions.[1] They purposely focused on incorporating their live energy into the songs when writing.[2] In March and April 2014, the group supported Bayside on their headlining US tour, dubbed The Great American Cult Tour.[4] Following this stint, the band spent more time writing, before they planned to record anything. O'Connor said they had came up with more guitar riffs than they had for Enemy of the World (2010), though he was unsure if their next release was going to be an album or EP.[3]

Production and composition

Go Down in History was recorded at The Machine Shop in New Jersey with producer Machine. He engineered the sessions with Andy Gomoll and Alberto De Icaza; the latter pair also handled editing. They were assisted by Johnny Rieg throughout the sessions. Machine mixed the recordings with assistance from Icaza; mixing and mastered was also done at The Machine Shop.[5]

Go Down in History saw the group move away from the arena rock experimentation of In Some Way, Shape, or Form, and back to the sound of their Rise or Die Trying (2007) and Enemy of the World (2010) albums:[6] riff-centric pop punk[7] with call-and-response vocals from Day and O'Connor.[8] The EP featured the band playing at "turbocharged" tempos, with "intricate" guitar riffs;[6] Revolver said the songs acted as a bridge between pop punk and melodic hardcore.[9] "What's in the Box?" was the most reminiscent of the Rise or Die Trying era.[6] The title-track incorporated gang vocals[6] that recalled the closings tracks of both Rise or Die Trying and Enemy of the World.[8] "So You're Saying There's a Chance" builds to a hook through a variety of time signature changes.[6] Its title is a reference to the film Dumb and Dumber (1994).[9]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic87/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk85%[8]
Alternative Press[6]
Ox-Fanzine[7]
Revolver4/5[9]
Rock Sound8/10[11]

Promotion and touring

On May 23, 2014 the band announced they had signed to Pure Noise Records.[12] Though the band had talked to various labels, they met Pure Noise founder Jake Round through mutual friends. After hearing all of the positive things about Round and his label, the group signed with him.[2] Four days later, Go Down in History was announced for release in July. Alongside this, the EP's artwork and track listing was revealed.[13] On June 5, "Tread Lightly" was made available for streaming.[14]

Between June and August, the band performed on the 2014 Warped Tour.[15] On July 11, "Living Proof of a Stubborn Youth" premiered through AbsolutePunk.[16] On July 18, a music video for "Go Down in History", filmed on the Warped Tour, premiered through Alternative Press' website.[17] Go Down in History was released on July 22.[13] In November, the group embarked on a headlining US tour, with support from Transit, Such Gold and Seaway.[18] In January 2015, they went on another US headlining tour, this time with support from Comeback Kid,[19] Expire, Handguns and Heart to Heart.[20]

Critical response

Go Down in History received generally positive reviews from music critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[10] The release marks a return to form for the band and reverts to their pop punk/melodic hardcore roots for the first time since their 2010 release Enemy of the World, the only difference being the lack of keyboards. The EP was included at number 34 on Rock Sound's "Top 50 Albums of the Year" list.[21]

Track listing

Track listing per booklet:[5]

No.TitleLength
1."What's in the Box?"3:07
2."Living Proof of a Stubborn Youth"3:05
3."Tread Lightly"3:19
4."Go Down in History"3:31
5."So You're Saying There's a Chance"3:34
Total length:16:36

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[5]

Four Year Strong
  • Alan Day – lead vocals, guitar
  • Dan O'Connor – lead vocals, guitar
  • Joe Weiss – bass guitar,
  • Jake Massucco – drums
Production
  • Machine – producer, mixing, engineer
  • Andy Gomoll – engineer, editing
  • Alberto De Icaza – editing, engineer, mix assistant
  • Johnny Rieg – assistant
  • Sam Kaufman – design

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b c "Four Year Strong Prepare to 'Go Down in History' With New EP Premiere: Listen". Billboard. July 21, 2014. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c McGrath, Ryan (July 2, 2014). "An Interview with Four Year Strong: Finding Their Way Back". The Aquarian Weekly. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Denning, Jake (March 18, 2014). "Four Year Strong - 03.18.14". AbsolutePunk. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  4. ^ Crane, Matt (December 19, 2013). "Bayside announce spring headlining tour with Four Year Strong, Daylight, Mixtapes". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Go Down in History (booklet). Four Year Strong. Pure Noise Records. 2014. PNE152.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ a b c d e f Manley, Brendan (July 14, 2014). "Four Year Strong – Go Down In History EP". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Altmayer, Christian (October–November 2014). "Reviews: Four Year Strong Go Down in History". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c Nassiff, Thomas (July 22, 2014). "Four Year Strong – Go Down In History - Album Review". AbsolutePunk. Archived from the original on August 6, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Bayer, Jonah (July 17, 2014). "Review: Four Year Strong – Go Down In History". Revolver. Archived from the original on July 19, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Go Down in History [EP] by Four Year Strong Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  11. ^ Reeves, Alex (July 16, 2014). "Four Year Strong – Go Down In History". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  12. ^ Crane, Matt (May 23, 2014). "Four Year Strong sign to Pure Noise Records". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Crane, Matt (May 27, 2014). "Four Year Strong announce new EP, 'Go Down In History'". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  14. ^ Bliss, Tony (June 5, 2014). "AUDIO: Four Year Strong – Tread Lightly". Dead Press!. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  15. ^ Crane, Matt (March 19, 2014). "Of Mice & Men, Bayside, Four Year Strong, more announced for Warped Tour 2014". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  16. ^ Crane, Matt (July 11, 2014). "Four Year Strong stream new song, "Living Proof Of A Stubborn Youth"". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  17. ^ Kraus, Brian (July 18, 2014). "Four Year Strong – "Go Down In History" (Video Premiere)". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  18. ^ Kraus, Brian (August 20, 2014). "Four Year Strong announce November tour with Transit, Such Gold, Seaway". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  19. ^ AltPress (October 6, 2014). "Four Year Strong announce headlining tour with Comeback Kid". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  20. ^ AltPress (November 6, 2014). "Four Year Strong announce additional support for winter tour with Comeback Kid". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  21. ^ Bird, ed. 2015, p. 24
Sources
  • Bird, Ryan, ed. (January 2015). "Top 50 Albums of the Year". Rock Sound (195). London: Freeway Press Inc. ISSN 1465-0185.
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