(Left to right) Jack Barakat, Rian Dawson, Alex Gaskarth and Zack Merrick of pop punk band All Time Low.
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Earlier this week pop punk band All Time Low uploaded their upcoming album to YouTube, allowing fans to hear it in its entirety prior to its release.
After a brief stint with Interscope Records for 2011’s Dirty Work, All Time Low has returned to Hopeless Records to release their fifth studio album, Don’t Panic.
“We’re really happy to be back with a group of people who know us, and know what to do with our band, our goals and how we intend to achieve them,” Alex Gaskarth said in a press release. “We’re in the right place.”
Preluded by three singles, Don’t Panic is set to release on October 9. With a twelve-song tracklist, the album showcases All Time Low’s perfectly.
No longer trying to produce radio-friendly pop (as demonstrated by Dirty Work), All Time Low has reclaimed their delightfully pop punk roots.
The album opens with summer anthem “The Reckless and The Brave,” a song reflecting on All Time Low’s time with Interscope Records.
Lyrics like “looking back at a life on the other side/I realize that I didn’t fit in/didn’t hate it but I didn’t quite relate it” are relatable across the board. All Time Low may be talking about their time spent on a major label, but the girl across the street could be talking her experience in high school.
Skipping ahead to the album’s third single and my personal favorite, we have “Somewhere in Neverland.” Throwing reference to the tale of Peter Pan, the track depicts youthful innocence and an ice-cold plunge into adulthood.
Another notable track is “Outlines,” featuring Jason Vena of the band Acceptance. Lines like “we could be a story in the morning/but we’ll be a legend tonight” send fans back to the front row of a concert by their favorite band. Nostalgia collides with a living-in-the-moment mentality, making one damn good song.
Carried by an infectious beat and backed by solid lyrics, Don’t Panic is the album die-hard fans have been waiting for.
You can pre-order Don’t Panic on iTunes. In the meantime, you can stream it below.