Album Review: Four Lights – Kobayashi Maru

Four Lights are set to release their sophomore album, Kobayashi Maru, on the 20th April via Bomb Pop Records in North America and Stardumb Records in Europe, the band are founded on the common ground of a passion for nerd culture, the star trek references in the album title and the band’s name are testament to this, and a severe Weezer addiction. The Seattle quartet originally came together in 2016, and ever since they’ve building a following on the US West Coast with their live shows, that are always played fully suited and booted, and a steady trail of releases that kicked off with their debut album, Death To False Posi.

From the frantic opening chords of Bent you immediately get the sense that they don’t just have a Weezer addiction, Four Lights are actually mainlining their infectious riffs, and as with anything that is directly injected the hit is much more intense and immediate. Four Lights have delivered a sophomore album that is jacked up power pop at it’s best, but Kobayashi Maru also possesses a sheen of pop punk sentimentality, that comes to the fore when the pace drops slightly, to create an album that will have you bouncing round your living room.

Alongside the obvious Weezer comparison there are also elements that remind me of the likes Jimmy Eats World, Bracket and the less ska orientated moments from Less Than Jake. Four Lights have delivered an album of frantic power pop that his the spot perfectly, there’s nothing on Kobayashi Maru that breaks new ground, unless you’ve never encountered Weezer before, and this might sound like a recipe for a predictable album, but like the situation inspired by the album’s title they triumph in what could have been a no win situation and the end result is that Kobayashi Maru is twelve sparkling tracks of power punk pop.

You can pre-order Kobayashi Maru on CD and vinyl via Stardumb Records here and via Bomb Pop Records here

Kobayashi Maru can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp here