Review of: 'Living Proof' by State Champs

RIP All Time Low 2004 - 2017. Luckily, we have State Champs to carry the pop rock torch. The first real sign of this to a lot of people was their debut, 'The Finer Things', but I was much more sold by their sophomore effort titled 'Around The World And Back'. This new album is one of my most anticipated of the year, and, on that note, how is the album.

If you couldn't tell already, this is going to be a review of the shorter variety, not because the album is bad by any means, there's just not a lot to say. Basically, if you liked 'Around The World And Back', you'll unquestionably like this. State Champs make another rock tinged pop album that mostly delivers. Not a lot has changed, the hooks are quite excellent even though very few end up sticking with you. They also have a tendency to fall together occasionally and lacking in distinctive flare. This leads into my first key criticism of this album, a lot of the time, any instrumental intricacies that could have otherwise came though are sacrificed in favour of huge guitar riffs and, while they might sound fine, they often swamp out any cohesive melody, and that's a shame.

Of course, it's not always a problem. The production gives the melody some room to breath in the opening in some of these songs, 'Our Time To Go' bring the standout, and 'Safe Haven' works fine too, I like a lot of the tonal choices on that song despite the main melody being completely buried on the hook. It gets significantly worse on 'Mine Is Gold', a generic, blocky, staccato stomping punk song lacking in edge, as well as a clumsily handled instrumental shift when transitioning into and out of the chorus.

Although, if it's edge your looking for, this album may not be for you. You get two punk songs ('Criminal', 'Dead And Gone'), nine huge, heavy pop songs, and 'Time Machine' and 'The Fix Up' the two token slow songs that sound utterly tired, a total contrast to the rest of the album despite the latter trying to build to some kind of crescendo in its final moments.

It is worth saying that these criticisms are minor, and the album is able to hit a stride with a few good to great songs. I've briefly touched on how 'Criminal' and 'Dead And Gone' nail the pop punk balance, but I'll also credit the huge hooks that pummel through on 'Our Time To Go', 'Cut Through The Static' and 'Safe Haven', even though I would personally wish for more instrumental layers.

And that really is the huge overarching problem with 'Living Proof'. The hooks are great, but lacking in deeper intricate layers that All Time Low mastered when they were in their prime. A good album, without a doubt, but also one that had the potential to be amazing. I expect a lot of people to brush this album off as a pop punk band slowly tipping towards pop, but there is something more to it, not a lot, but there is something more. It gets a light 3.5 / 5.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Best Songs: 'Our Time To Go', 'Cut Through The Static', 'Safe Haven', 'Dead And Gone'

Worst Songs: 'Mine Is Gold', 'Time Machine'