Immediately they throw unexpected aspects into opener ‘Here To Stay, conveying that after all this time they still have something new to show (despite it being very reminiscent of All Time Low’s new sound). The clunky beats and scuzzy, high tuned riffs show juxtaposition between their self-proclaimed title of rulers of the genre they helped build while moving through the new wave that’s slowly occurring.
There are quite a few tracks that see State Champs move away from the catchy and dynamic bangers and more towards lighter, more preppy and melodic tunes like ‘Fake It’. There are some major pop elements here, including vocal overlays, off-the-beat rhythms, elongated guitar riffs, a clapping section and cleaner vocals. Singer Derek DiScanio moves away from his usual style and reaches a combination that no one would ever predict. The more mellow notes in the verses have the same smooth tones as Alex Gaskarth (increasing the All Time Low comparison), yet the powerful middle eight build ups into the higher range, supported by the poppy rhythms, is strangely evocative of that of Ariana Grande’s in her hit ‘Problem’ with Iggy Azalea.
In a similar pop-influenced fashion, ‘Sundress’ showcases smoother vocals, a slower pace and a more relaxed summer vibe – not what you’d expect from the song featuring Four Year Strong. This song in general is a disappointment as doesn’t commit to one sound enough to carry it through effectively or contrast elements of other genres clearly enough to create obvious, intentional distinguish. The verses are okay as they are, albeit a little watered down, but the attempt at building up to a big chorus is very anticlimactic as you’d expect them to keep the pace or completely turn it on its head. Four Year Strong’s vocal input is also very short and contributes nothing different, which is the biggest let-down of all. Both bands are known for their huge pop punk hits so why have they collectively created something so left-field and ultimately dull as this?
When it comes to collaborations on this album though, ‘Sundress’ is the only flop. ‘Half Empty’ featuring Chrissy Costanza is a beautiful song that introduces piano, swirling vocal production and catchy yet emotional hooks to the genre. Arguably the best song on the album, there is no clear fault to be seen. DiScanio and Costanza’s vocals complement each other perfectly, while the instrumentation has been written spectacularly to maintain the poignant mood set. Still in line with their pop punk sound, this isn’t to be labelled as the token acoustic or slow song, merely their most immersive and passionate.
The collab no one could see coming was that of country pop singer Mitchell Tenpenny. The pop influences are on parr with ‘Fake It’, featuring funky bass and a big chorus full of hooks. Tenpenny’s short interjection is certainly powerful and his deep vocals burst through with great velocity. This track is so unexpected it almost sounds like a cover as there is nothing within it that fit the tropes of a State Champs song. This is certainly not a negative point though as it shows the diverse ability of the band despite how much they love to pigeon-hole themselves into one genre.
For those searching for the more classic State Champs sound featuring some of drummer Evan Ambrosio’s best fills, you can find them easily in the fast riff-filled ‘Just Sound’, emotion-driven ‘Eventually’, scathing party song ‘Everybody But You’ (featuring Ben Barlow) and singalong tune ‘Where Were You’. However, they won’t blow you away. Out of these four, only ‘Everybody But You’ has the potential to be a big hit (and arguably already is as one of the most popular lead singles), but it’s hardly on par with their other fan favourites. It’s interesting to note that the moments where State Champs have tried to stay true to their old sound – the one in which they claim to rule – is where they’ve produced their least remarkable work.
Kings of The New Age is by no means bad a bad record. State Champs have pushed themselves to try new sounds while staying predominantly within pop punk, giving us some of the most bizarre comparisons and collaborations of their career. The only downfall is where they’ve stayed in their own lane and been unable to compete with their own past work.