All Time Low doesn’t disappoint with ten songs of pure pop punk, singing about heartbreak and rebellion in the seventh studio album, Last Young Renegade that was released on June 2, 2017. Beginning the album with Last Young Renegade sets the stage for the rest of the songs to shine through. Using the narrative of the Last Young Renegade has allowed one song to flow easily to the next and help connect the themes of the songs to each other. We get a clear image of a young renegade starting young and going through life’s trials and tribulations. Drummer Rian Dawson and bassist Zach Merrick provide a strong structure that compliment Alex Gaskarth’s strong vocals and lead guitarist Jack Barakat ties it all together with melodic and memorable guitar riffs.
Songs like Dirty Laundry and Nightmares slow down what usually is the very up-tempo pop punk that they’re known for. Ground Control features the sisters Tegan and Sara, an indie pop duo, and demonstrates their versatility and talent to work with artists outside of their genre to break boundaries and create something that can appeal to a wider audience. Last Young Renegade is quite different from their other albums because they’ve incorporated more mellow, electronic sounding beats. It’s clear that they’re trying something new, with darker sounds and having songs like Good Times feel like ballads (check out their official lyric video below!).
However, Nice2KnoU takes it back to their classic sound with chunky, distorted guitar riffs paired with strong, fast drumbeats and layered back up vocals. They do a nice job of staying with the ever-changing music trends and making sure that they remain relevant in the world of pop punk and in the world of music in general.
While this album doesn’t consist of the typical victorious and call to arms songs that make up an All Time Low are known for, Afterglow closes the ten-song album perfectly, leaving an uplifting feel for all the young renegades out there. Paired with their tour that starts on June 30th, there’s no doubt that this album won’t be a big hit.
Check out their tour dates below, and be sure to snag some tickets for a city near you!