State Champs’ new album, Kings of The New Age, encapsulates the rush of lovesick emotions and soul searching paired with summer nostalgia.
State Champs, the beloved pop-punk band hailing from Albany, New York returns with their groundbreaking and visionary fourth studio album, Kings of The New Age released on May 13th, 2022. Kings of The New Age presents the lovesick emotions from infatuation to heartbreak and finding yourself in the world after its collapse. The album is infused with loud and vibrant guitars, and energetic drums mixed with powerful vocals from frontman Derek DiScanio. The record also features stacked collaborations from artists ranging from Ben Barlow, Chrissy Costanza, Four Year Strong and Mitchell Tenpenny. Kings of The New Age possesses older musical elements from previous State Champs records along with modern twists which creates the ultimate blend for fans to enjoy.
The quartet consists of Derek DiScanio, Evan Ambrosio, Ryan Graham, and Tyler Szalkowski. The band is influenced by notable bands such as Blink 182, Green Day, and Fall Out Boy. State Champs first debuted in 2010 and released their first album The Finer Things in 2013 followed by Around The World and Back in 2015 and Living Proof in 2018. Among their success in the industry they have played the infamous Warped Tour and toured with acts such as 5 Seconds of Summer, Knuckle Puck, and Neck Deep. The evolution of State Champs throughout the years has allowed the band to reach audiences with their discography and captivating live shows.
One of the most highly praised tracks off Kings Of The New Age is the pop-punk summer anthem, “Everybody But You” featuring Ben Barlow of Neck Deep. It instantly became a classic within the scene because of its traditional pop-punk roots, elements of empowering drums, and raging guitar driven instrumentation with melodic lyrics. The track is an immediate headbanger just by the chorus alone, “so turn the music up louder, tell everybody come through cause I’m having a party, inviting everybody but you”, will have you screaming the words at the top of your lungs. The crossover between DiScanio and Barlow creates the ultimate fusion of two pop-punk bands resulting in an iconic and exhilarating song.
Another addictive and radiant track is “Outta My Head” which includes an ecstatic guitar riff, thunderous drums, and an overly infectious upbeat melody and lyricism. The track presents the infatuation that comes from a relationship and constantly replaying all of the memories. The chorus “I can’t get you out of my head, spinning around the edge, play it again” is so irresistible it is impossible to not sing along.
Kings of The New Age establishes State Champs as the heart within the pop-punk scene. The production and musical arrangements of this album shows the progression of the band’s ever evolving journey. Kings of The New Age is the perfect album to soak up the sun with and drive with the windows down.
I am a photographer based in Houston, Texas. I'm currently pursuing a BFA degree concentrating in Photography and Digital Media at the University of Houston. Music has always been a big part of my life and I love that I get to intertwine that with photography. I'm consistently listening to all of my favorite bands and discovering new genres and artists. I love all things cosmic, watching films, and reading.
