CD Review

Produced by James Paul Wisner (Underoath, Dashboard Confessional, The Academy Is…) and released last September, Free At Last is the fourth full-length album from South Carolina’s Stretch Arm Strong.

Consisting of Chris McLane on vocals, David Sease and JC Lopez on guitar, Jeremy Jeffers on bass, and John K. Barry on drums, SAS was born from humble beginnings, two teachers with a side gig and a dream. That was up until they signed a three-album deal with Solid State. Traveling the world on summer breaks and random school holidays, they delivered powerful punk anthems. When they completed their third album, they finally left their day jobs to tour, and they weren’t out there alone. Tourmates include Rise Against, Pennywise, Rancid, Norma Jean, Good Charlotte, New Found Glory and they’ve even jammed out with George Clinton.

Despite the hardcore backbone, their style of punk is less harsh and melodramatic, but more refreshing, positive, and sincere, while it’s all captured within these powerful stories. Most lyrics manage to leave you with a lasting impression of their journey through life thus far, which seem to have made the band stronger and “free at last.”