It would be fair to say that State Champs are on a seemingly unstoppable upwards curve career-wise. 2013’s ‘The Finer Things’ set them on the road to pop-punk stardom and they haven’t looked back since. What’s more, countless festival appearances, headline tours, and support slots for the likes of All Time Low and Five Seconds Of Summer have given them a level of exposure around the world that many bands never taste.
And so State Champs find themselves at a pivotal moment in their career just five years after forming. However, if they did feel any pressure putting the album together then it doesn’t show at all, as ‘Around The World And Back’ is as effortlessly confident as it is enjoyable. It was never likely that State Champs would move too far away from their trademark sound for record number two and album opener ‘Eyes Closed’ picks up where they left off with ‘The Finer Things’. Packed full of vocal harmonies and crunchy pop-punk riffs, it may not blow you away but it sets the scene perfectly and gets you pumped for more.
‘Secrets’immediately steps things up a gear, it’s infectiously bouncy guitars leading into the first big sing-along chorus of many on the record, all of which are delivered with boundless enthusiasm by Derek Discanio. However it’s with ‘All You Are Is History’ that the party really gets started. Not only does it sound absolutely huge with arena-sized riffs, but everything about it is absolutely spot on, from the vocals to the melodies to the drums and everything in between. It’s got an electric energy to it and is probably the best song State Champs have ever written.
It should be a tough act to follow, but it’s pretty clear that ‘Around The World And Back’ is something special. The likes of ‘Perfect Score’ and ‘All Or Nothing’ keep the momentum going, with the latter finding State Champs raising their game lyrically and the song striking a slightly more emotionally mature tone as a result. Likewise, ‘Shape Up’ is another gem with its grin-inducing handclaps, woahs, and positive vibe, whereas ‘Back And Forth’ possesses one of the catchiest choruses with the refrain of “We can still be anything, I want the world to set you free” tailor made for sing-alongs from their growing legion of fans.
Had State Champs played it safe and churned out ‘The Finer Things: Part 2’ it would have been easy to put it down to second album syndrome and to start looking forward to their next record, and not every song hits the spot. ‘Breaking Ground’ shows hints of a harder edge but doesn’t differentiate itself enough to stand out, and ‘Tooth And Nail’ isn’t the golden finish that the album deserves. However, they do make the time to step out of their comfort zone with ‘Around The World And Back’ which features Ansley Newman from Jule Vera. Adding female vocals to a largely acoustic pop-punk ballad is nothing new, but together Ansley and Derek produce some stunning harmonies and the backing strings just add to the atmosphere.
‘Around The World And Back’, is a success on so many levels. It may wear its influences on its sleeve a bit too clearly at times, but it sees State Champs improving on their trademark sound in every way. Not only that but it’s sure to force all other bands to up their game and breathe new life into the pop-punk genre.
CHRIS HILSON