Story of the Year Rocks the Vote

Outburn magazine's review of Story of the Year starts off with one assertion: they sound nothing like St. Louis' other hometown star, Nelly.

We at Rock the Vote aren't sure what that's supposed to mean. But these rockers do have something in common with the rapper-- they've made St. Louis a thriving music scene.

Joey Kline, music lover, and former St. Louis resident had this to say about the up and coming band:

The Black Swan is the name of Nassim Nicholas Taleb's (essayist and scholar) book on unpredictable events. It's also the title of the new Story of the Year album – their third overall and first on the indie punk label, Epitaph. Worried? Don't be. Story of the Year has not gone and pulled a "Mars Volta" on us. Many lyrics deal with outrage at current political and social issues as well as the concept that human existence is insignificant in comparison to the universe as a whole, as evidenced by song titles like "Apathy is a Deathwish", and "Message to the World". If this sounds a bit mature for a Story of the Year album, it is. But, the album never gets preachy, and it is ultimately what a collection of songs from Story of the Year should be – a whole lot of fun.

The St. Louis quintet paired with John Feldman, long-time friend and producer of their first album, Page Avenue, to man the boards for The Black Swan, and this is a good indication of what can be expected. Whereas their second album, In the Wake of Determination, found Story of the Year injecting more metal-influenced passages into their unique pop-punk formula, on the new album they combine the melodies of Page Avenue with the best riffs from their second LP. "Choose Your Fate" is one of the heaviest and best songs the band has ever written. "Wake Up" is what we've come to expect from a Story of the Year single – big guitars and a soaring chorus. The album continues with addictive riffs, a healthy dose of vocalist Dan Marsala's signature mix of impassioned singing and guttural screaming, and even a spoken word interlude based on the writings of Carl Sagan.

Story of the Year is arguably best known for their explosive live show which features flips, throwing guitars back and forth, and jumping off amplifiers. They've penned another thirteen songs that will be a great addition to their already extremely energetic concerts – just be careful in the mosh pit. Key tracks: "Choose Your Fate", "Apathy is a Deathwish", and "Welcome to Our New War".

Outburn magazine adds that Story of the Year is rocking the vote this year. You can check out their review online, or check out Story of the Year for yourself at Vans Warped Tour. Thanks Story of the Year, for rocking the vote!