US pop-punks State Champs have returned with their third album Living Proof. The record is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2015’s Around The World And Back, which received critical acclaim and was the focus of a lengthy touring schedule for the band.
Opener Criminal takes the pop-punk guitars and energy and combines with rocky drums to create a catchy start to the record. Frozen and Crystal Ball both have insanely catchy choruses. Dead And Gone, the lead single, is one of the stand-out tracks on the record and was one of the two co-written with Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus. It’s angsty. Latest single Our Time To Go slows the pace down and gets quite emotional but is a guaranteed sing-a-long live. The lyrics are some of the most relatable on the album and is beautifully sung. If you want a true mix of old-school and nu-wave pop-punk, then Safe Haven is the track for you on the record.
The Fix Up slows things down again and discusses the emotions behind relationships and break-ups and Time Machine tugs at the heartstrings.
The whole of Living Proof is absolutely fantastic and definitely lives up to the expectations set in place with Around The World And Back. Derek’s vocals are incredible and the musicianship is top notch and tight. Every song has it’s own earworm moments. You can see the influence of both teams State Champs worked with; the duo of Mike Green and Kyle Black who were behind ATWAB and John Feldmann but throughout the experimentation, they keep the signature State Champs sound and will please both fans and critics with this record.