Album Review: State Champs – Kings of The New Age

If any band were to be crowned royalty amongst the current generation of pop-punk acts, we have little doubt the honor would go to New York’s State Champs. The group continues their streak of releasing powerhouse albums with their latest studio record, Kings Of The New Age.

Bookended by two truly anthemic tracks, the band’s latest effort packs in eleven blissfully high-energy songs sure to get stuck in the listener’s head. 

Right out of the gate, opener “Here to Stay” sets the tone with a larger than life sound. The track packs in bright, memorable instrumentation layered beneath vivid lyrics like “just another pebble in the hourglass.” Overall, it’s successful in commanding one’s full attention and offering a glimpse of what Kings Of The New Age has to offer.

Vocalist Derek DiScanio shines on the stand-out track, “Fake It.” The steady build-up in the pre-chorus as well as the bridge really shows off his talent and makes it nearly impossible to resist hitting the replay button as soon as it ends. We predict this one will be especially impactful in a live setting, as it’s nearly impossible to sit still listening to it. 

“Half Empty” (feat. Chrissy Costanza) may be the closest the album comes to a more stripped down track. This song’s introspective lyrics pair well with the tone and Costanza’s voice is a nice compliment to DiScanio’s. 

One of our favorite tracks, “Act Like That” (feat. Mitchell Tenpenny), appears a little over halfway through the album. While perfectly at home within the context of the album, we would argue that this song stands out as the most unique offering for State Champs. In addition to its distinctive flair, the track boosts an incredibly slick, smooth instrumental solo before the feature. There’s an easy, sing-along quality to this song that is sure to resonate. 

Album closer, “Some Minds Don’t Change,” manages to feel even grander than the opener. Filled with flashy guitars and a wicked melody, this track successfully pulls together all the best elements of the album into one big, unforgettable sign-off that will stay fresh in the mind of the listener long after the final note.  

“Where Were You” and “Sundress” (feat. Four Year Strong) are two more engaging additions to this State Champs album with plenty of heart. 

Familiar singles round out the album, including “Just Sound, ”Outta My Head,” “Eventually” and “Everybody But You” (feat. Ben Barlow). Each reflects the same dynamic energy of the rest of the album, with the latter offering a collaboration many fans of the genre have likely dreamed about for some time. The party-centric music video for the track even features a cameo from MTV Teen Wolf star, Tyler Posey. 

There’s something to be said about the consistency and authenticity of this band, as the spark that initially made us fall in love with the group’s sound continues to shine through nearly a decade later. That’s not to say they haven’t evolved – State Champs continue to push the boundaries of their sound with fresh, new energy and thoughtful lyrics. This growth has cemented them as one of the strongest acts in the scene, and we look forward to seeing them continue to thrive. 

State Champs’ Kings Of The New Age is set to release on May 13th. 

Want more news from Beyond The Stage like album reviews of your favorite bands, interviews with artists you love, coverage of their concerts and more? Click here. 

Listen to State Champs on Spotify below and be sure to let us know what you think of the Kings of The New Age in the comments below!