STATE CHAMPS - 'STATE CHAMPS' Album Review

Tracklist:

The Constant
Silver Cloud
Clueless
Light Blue
Too Late to Say
Hell Of It
Sobering
Tight Grip
I Still Want To
Just A Dream
Save Face Story
Golden Years

State Champs are back with their fifth, self-titled, studio album which was released on the 8th of November on Pure Noise Records.

The self-confessed pop punk band have gone through various life changes, relocations, marriages, kids etc but it hasn’t dulled their edge. This is a powerhouse of an album. It’s an album the clearly reflects where the band are just now. Derek DiScanio’s vocals have never sounded better, given all the upheavals in their life it’s amazing just how tight the band are behind him, as a band the clearly love playing together and are still the same outfit who started in various bedrooms off of those years ago but more polished while not losing their edge. The songs are some of the strongest they have released since, perhaps, 'Around The World And Back', which was a current rock albums billboard number 3 album.

To give you a feel for what others think of them there have been collaborations with Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low and Mark Hoppus of Blink 182.

This album is a perfect statement of where the band are now, which is very much at the forefront of the current wave of pop punk acts after nearly 15 years of being together, it feels like it reflects all of their career while showing they are very much moving forwards.

Some great songs, including the lead off single, 'Silver Cloud', this album is going to sound amazing live, which is probably a good thing as they are touring the US in November and December with a number of support acts (if you’re over there make sure you go catch them).

There isn’t a weak song on this album which deals with lots of different emotions, lots of relationship issues and the various things the band have been experiencing in a way that is still going to make you get in the mosh pit and jump around.

What’s great is it’s not full attack throughout, they are able to vary the tempo, hit hard with the more emotional moments but are still able to make music that give me hope for the future of the genre, it’s clearly in safe hands!

So which songs would I recommend? Personally, I’m a fan of 'Clueless', 'Sobering' and 'I Still Want To', but as I said earlier, I don’t think there is a weak song on this album. I think it’s going to sound amazing on the forthcoming tour, the big question is will they come over to the UK and Europe? It feels like they need to, with Green Day having recently toured the UK and touring some of Europe next year this feels like a great time to come over.

Download this album or buy it in some physical form, if you like pop punk this is a band at the peak of their game, hitting it hard but sounding better than they ever have. It’s a joy to listen to! Just make sure before you listen you’ve cleared plenty of space for a bit of jumping around.