STATE CHAMPS

Album four is often when a beloved rock band shifts gears, frustrating longtime fans, searching for a more "mature" sound. STATE CHAMPS raise a joyous middle finger to that trope with Kings Of The New Age, an enthusiastic and confident reminder of what the Upstate New Yorkers do best.

Younger than Gen X punk heroes like Billie Joe Armstrong and Mark Hoppus; older than Willow and Trippie Redd; the foursome balances energy and experience. As a new generation resurrects angsty unrest on TikTok and Machine Gun Kelly puts guitars back on the mainstream chart, STATE CHAMPS double down on the vibrant pop-punk they've championed for a decade. They were several steps ahead of the seismic sonic shift. Kings Of The New Age will now claim the crown.

Derek DiScanio, Tyler Szalkowski, Ryan Scott Graham, and Evan Ambrosio deliver a strong message. Produced by Drew Fulk (Lil Wayne, A Day To Remember, Ice Nine Kills) aka WZRD BLD, Kings Of The New Age is a big album, without sacrificing the heart cherished by a legion of fans.

KNUCKLE PUCK

Since forming in Chicago's south suburbs a decade ago, KNUCKLE PUCK have become one of the aggressive pop-punk genre's preeminent forces thanks to a relatable lyrical approach and similarly engaging musical sensibilities - a blend that has filled venues around the world and the main stages of the Vans Warped Tour and Slam Dunk.

Now, on their much-anticipated third album, 20/20, the band filter the same youthful, wide-eyed approach of their early material through the sonic evolutions they've explored since. All at once, 20/20 is both a look back and a step forward - and most importantly, it's an album that, at its core, urges listeners to live in the here and now. "Not every song has to be an existential journey," says guitarist Nick Casasanto. "We went into this album wanting to make people feel good about who they are and not upset about who they aren't. I want people to want to listen to this record."

Meet Me @ The Altar

Meet Me @ The Altar is here to dismantle rock music's stereotypes riff by riff. The band-comprised of guitarist-bassist Te?a Campbell, drummer Ada Juarez and lead vocalist Edith Victoria-has reignited the genre with their refreshing mix of earworm pop melodies, blazing guitar riffs, and punk attitude. Now, the band is ready to stake their claim in rock history with their debut album, Past // Present // Future, released via Fueled By Ramen on March 10th.

The record finds the bandmates experimenting more than ever as they solidify a signature sound while also ripping apart the "nostalgia act" box they didn't ask to be placed in. Each word in the album title holds a significant meaning: "Past" pays respect to the iconic bands who've influenced them (including Paramore, Twenty One Pilots, P!NK, Demi Lovato, and Avril Lavigne). "Present" finds the band redefining what a modern-day rock band looks and sounds like, while "Future" looks ahead at how the band will impact the genre and where they might go from here.