New Found Glory

It’s been decades since New Found Glory’s likeness was chiseled onto pop-punk’s Mount Rushmore, but as the quartet, formed in Coral Springs, Florida, in 1997, approach their landmark 30th anniversary, they still have a lot to say. “We wanted to make something that really focused on how lucky we are,” guitarist Chad Gilbert explains of Listen Up!, NFG’s 11th studio album and first release for Pure Noise Records. “We’ve all gone through serious stuff in our lives, and I think the lyrics on this record are more meaningful and purposeful than ever. It’s a positive outlet that hopefully keeps people going.” The album’s spirit is indeed a testament to resilience, shaped not only by Gilbert’s ongoing battle with an aggressive metastatic cancer but also the ever-evolving dynamic between him and his bandmates – vocalist Jordan Pundik, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Cyrus Bolooki – as they continue to push each other creatively. It’s the same full-hearted sentiment that colored their 2023 acoustic EP, Make The Most Of It, here delivered in three-minute bursts of the band’s trademark pop-punk sound: the shiny melodies that launched them onto TRL in the early 2000s, the ghosts of the tight-knit punk and hardcore scenes they came up in as teenagers. At this stage in their decorated career, New Found Glory’s goals are straightforward: keep inspiring the next generation of artists and continue writing songs that help their audience – and themselves – find strength, courage, and joy.