New Found Glory has been a band for 23 years and is known for hits like “My Friends Over You” and “Dressed to Kill.” Their unmistakable pop-punk prowess led them to be up there with the likes of Simple Plan, Sum 41, and Good Charlotte. They’re a household name at this point, but are they still relevant? Let’s take a look with their 10th outing, Forever And Ever x Infinity.
Kicking off the 15-track album, “Shook By Your Shaved Head” is a tongue-in-cheek, riff-heavy jaunt. It’s par-for-the-course with NFG, with jovial lyrics and a carefree presentation. “Greatest of All Time” is the leading single, operating as quintessential pop-punk with a “’96 Bulls” lyric that smacked a smirk on my face. This is the most accessible track off Forever And Ever x Infinity to reel old fans back in.
“Double Chin for the Win” is reminiscent of Sticks & Stones-era Glory, pulling the listener right into the nostalgia of the early 2000s. With lyrical themes of inferiority, this one’s best for getting in the listener’s feels. At a brisk 2 minutes, “Nothing to Say” lies more into the punk side of pop punk, getting its point across in its short runtime.
Next up, “Stay Awhile” has endearing lyrics that beg the listener to sing along. While New Found Glory isn’t necessarily complex in this department, it makes them more easy to enjoy for a wider audience. The last single, “Himalaya,” has the best guitar hook on the album so far, cranking up the heaviness a bit to get crowds moving. Yelled vocals wrap up this highlight song off Forever And Ever x Infinity.
“Same Side Sitters” keeps the fast pace going, with young-and-in-love lyrical content that makes for a great listen during a romantic drive. “Like I Never Existed,” though? Not so much. New Found Glory is presenting quite the lyrical dichotomy of lovelorn and head-over-heels songs on this album, all the while implementing strong instrumentals and production.
Exploring their acoustic side, “More and More” is a sentimental piece about giving all the love one can possibly give. “Do You Want to Settle Down” has a strong breakdown/bridge riff to add substance to the middle of the record. “The Way You Deserve” is more of the same within Forever And Ever x Infinity, again touching on lovesickness with cheery guitar harmonies.
“Trophy” begins with loud-and-proud tom/snare hits, garnering the old NFG sound once again. “Scarier Than Jason Vorhees at a Campfire” actually incorporates the movie into the nonchalant lyrics, fearing falling in love again. “Birthday Song But Not Really” lean into the positive effects of a couple as the penultimate track. We finish off with “Slipping Away,” clocking in at 5 minutes and featuring a pleasant outro.
As the amount of releases for New Found Glory hit double-digits, the band is surprisingly not showing their age. Forever And Ever x Inifinity is still a solid outing, even if some of the later tracks don’t stack up to the singles. It would be safe to say NFG could go on for another 23 years and still capture relevance in the pop punk scene.
RATING: 7/10
A press copy of Forever And Ever x Infinity was provided courtesy of Big Picture Media.
