Four years into darkness album full#

вЂњA moment in the sun/A lifetime in the shade/A year full of glory and an empty decade,вЂќ Hawkins shrieks on вЂњI Wish I Was in HeavenвЂќ-fatalistic, gallows humor that couldвЂ™ve fit on an Elliott Smith record and still be the most depressing track. And if he was to totally break kayfabe, thereвЂ™s a compelling story to be told about how a band like the Darkness keeps on keepinвЂ™ on when they actually decline-when the advances shrivel up and the tour rider isnвЂ™t picking out the green M&MвЂ™s. Hawkins has been singing about himself as a has-been almost from the start. And itвЂ™s the closer, so Pinewood Smile ends with, вЂњacross the sand on a donkey ride/great fun till the donkey diedвЂќ followed by 30 seconds of silence. But вЂњJapanese Prisoner of LoveвЂќ reduces вЂњsensual deprivations/human rights violationsвЂќ to group showers and the indignity of being вЂњtaken by force from behind by a stabby white supremacist named Klaus.вЂќ At best, itвЂ™s failed role-playing, but Pinewood SmileвЂ™s unexpected mean streak becomes indefensible on вЂњStampede of Love.вЂќ ItвЂ™s not inexplicable-as two of the DarknessвЂ™ spiritual forefathers were responsible for вЂњ Fat Bottomed GirlsвЂќ and вЂњ Big BottomвЂќ-but вЂњStampedeвЂќ is more in the spirit of Shallow Hal as a full-length вЂњno fat chicksвЂќ joke that doesnвЂ™t even try to half-ass a moral lesson about body acceptance.

Given that he sings from the perspective of a pirate earlier on Pinewood Smile, one can't doubt Hawkins' willingness to be out of his depth. The Darkness follow suit, a subtle and sad shift from their prior skewering of trouser-stuffing machismo. While that era of absurdist, winking slapstick was often viewed as clever or even subversive in its time, itвЂ™s depressing to see, in retrospect, how many of the jokes were just outward projections of hetero male paranoia. Hell, thereвЂ™s a simpering power ballad called вЂњHappinessвЂќ that invokes DвЂ™s own вЂњ Friendship Test,вЂќ whereas вЂњSolid GoldвЂќ (as in, вЂњshitting outвЂ¦вЂќ) takes its clueless A&R clichГ©s from the flim Get Him to the Greek. And all thatвЂ™s left is the cynicвЂ™s view of the Darkness as some comedy-rocker combination of Russell Brand joining Tenacious D to front Steel Panther. вЂњWe wanted to put out a great record and not just a bunch of great songs.вЂќ They fully embrace their album title, Rise or Die Trying, and Four Year Strong refuse to stop until theyвЂ™ve taken the world by storm.Д«race yourself, letвЂ™s start the takeover.But with Pinewood Smile, the joke is taken more seriously than ever. Unrelenting spirit, gut-wrenchingly good music, and no flashy gimmicks, Four Year Strong are building themselves to the top with an indestructible foundation.ДЇour Year Strong combine equal parts melody and mayhem however, their true talent lies in the ability to use these parts to create one exciting, infectious whole. The band has nearly 1 Million plays on Myspace with nothing more than a taste of what Rise or Die Trying will bring. Already, the album has generated an excited buzz across the web, featured on websites like and to print magazines Rolling Stone and Alternative Press. Their debut full-length, Rise or Die Trying, premieres September 18th on I Surrender Records. The band does not bother with egos or attitude, determined to connect with every fan on a personal level. Behind the numerous tattoos and grizzly beards, Four Year Strong are the kind of guys you would want to bring home to Mom and Dad. The band does not sugarcoat their image, avoiding the pretty-boy front that smothers the scene. Sharing an average age of 20 years old and with a do-it-yourself determination, Four Year Strong do not pretend to be anyone but themselves. вЂњWe just play exactly what we want to hear,вЂќ describes Dan, explaining their combination of hardcore and pop-punk. Their influences range from Lifetime to Saves the Day, Gorilla Biscuits to New Found Glory. Their music incites a riot like nothing seen before, leaving live crowds and CD listeners alike simultaneously blown away, and fired up. Bringing a unique blend of brutal breakdowns and soaring choruses, Four Year Strong have cut their teeth into the Worcester hardcore scene and thirst for more. At first, this may not raise eyebrows or drop jaws, but it is only a matter of time. The first strains of Michael JacksonвЂ™s вЂњThrillerвЂќ filter through the speakers as Four Year Strong take their hometown stage, fully prepared to shred faces, blow minds, and take no prisoners.ДЄlan Day (Vocals/Guitar), Dan OвЂ™Conner (Vocals/Guitar), Joe Weiss (Bass), Josh Lyford (Synth), and Jake Massucco (Drums) are Four Year Strong. The room is plunged into darkness and the wild shouting echoes in the air this is the moment theyвЂ™ve been waiting for. Instead, nearly 600 kids spanning all ages and tastes have excitedly packed themselves into the tiny venue. Those who have their hearts set on a Sunday night bingo game or knitting circle at the Quinsigamond Village Community Center will walk away sorely disappointed.

Four years into darkness album