New Found Glory celebrated the release of its sixth album “Not Without a Fight on Tuesday, March 10.
After failing to be overly impressed by the band’s previous musical repetoire, one might expect to merely ride the fence on its new release. However, instead of more of the same, the album resulted in a fresh breath of vigor from the decade-old band Not Without a Fight” has reignited the raging fan base that surrounds the band.
The band’s first album bearing the Epitaph label boasts a variety of songs that feature their classic sound. However the introduction of a groundbreaking style and direction will surely relight the band’s past flames adding a new spark of creativity.
“Reasons” is a personal favorite on the album with a catchy intro and a solid body that would make anyone sit up and press replay. Another unique ballad “Heartless At Best brings an original drumbeat to the table that is a breath of fresh air. Don’t Let Her Pull you Down” has a great sing-along aesthetic that will stick in listeners’ heads. Many songs feature energetic choral vocals that give extra depth to the tracks.
Guitarist Chad Gilbert explained in interviews how the band has managed to hold to the same lineup – Jordan Pundik (lead vocals) Chad Gilbert (lead guitar vocals) Steven Klein (rhythm guitar) Ian Grushka (bass) and Cyrus Bolooki (drums) – for more than 10 years.
The team’s glory days began in Coral Springs Fla. in 1997. Releasing its first two albums in the first two years as a band – “Nothing Gold Can Stay” (1999) and “New Found Glory” (2000) the band’s hard-hitting tour schedule and charismatic personality are credited for their widespread devoted fan base. This ensured that its following two albums “Sticks and Stones” (2002) and “Catalyst” (2004) would hold coveted positions in the top 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.
However as 2006 slowly rolled by the band found itself playing to less enthusiastic fans. “Coming Home” (2006) was met with lukewarm demand in the face of newer up-and-coming pop rock/punk artists. When the band’s recording contract ended in 2008 it took the opportunity to take some creative license. The members soon began to pick up unfinished projects such as “From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II the second part of a cover album that had been in high demand for years. This inwardly-inspired creativity brought new attention to the band as a whole, reenergizing the band’s classic creativity.
While each band member explored his own independent projects, the band continued to write its latest album together, which they decided to record before choosing a new label. That’s where +44 / Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus came in, agreeing to produce Not Without a Fight” at the studio he co-owns with his old friend Travis Barker. Soon after the band made the decision to sign with Epitaph in 2008.
The lyrics are a raised fist against heartache. Songs like “Don’t Let Her Pull You Down” “Right Where We Left Off” and “Truck Stop Blues” speak of abusive relationships leaving the artist jaded and skeptical of love.
Pushing boundaries are what rock has been about since its roots. “Not Without a Fight” embodies this rebellious attitude spectacularly. The band is back to basics. It is streamlined reenergized and has created the best music it has produced to date.