Rob caught up with Joe Weiss from Four Year Strong to talk about their current headline UK tour, the departure of Josh Lyford, the current album and much more.

You released your new album ‘In Some Way, Shape Or Form’ towards the end of last year are you happy with how the album has gone down with your fans and the press?
Joe, Bass) Definitely, its different from some of the other stuff we have done, obviously we expected that some people wouldn't be in to the change. We wanted to do what we wanted to do, we have been doing this for ten years, we wanted to make ourselves happy to.

How did you find writing and recording the album compared to your previous albums?
it was a different experience for us, we pressured ourselves a lot more, this record, normally a lot of people have their drums snapped to a grid, we didn't do this, what you hear is what was played, we wanted to get a more real feel to the album.

What themes and stories do you cover within the album?
It runs the gamut I guess, its a lot out where we are in our careers, about some of the labels we were on, the downward spiral of the record labels and how the music business has gone, about friends and the shit they've been through, its all over the place.

What would you say your favourite track from the album is to listen to and play live and why?
To play live, stuck in the middle, its full speed ahead and a lot of fun to play and also my favourite track on the album.

We interviewed you back in February 2011 and we spoke to Josh Lyford who has now left the band, how did his departure come about and how has it affected the band?
I think it was a long time coming, he was asked to leave, I dont know if hell admit it now or now, but he didn't want to be in the band and it showed, as for the music, he didn't really participate in the song writing so creative wise nothing changed, I mean it was different getting used to as he was one of my best friends, it was the instrument we didn't want to continue with more than the person.

You are currently on your second date of a headline tour across the UK how has it been so far?
It went great, that venue and city are awesome, it would have been nice if it was summer time, so we could have gone on the beach, but the show was great and tonight is sold out and we've never played this venue before.

You have A Loss For Words, Don Broco and This Time Next Year supporting you, how did these supports come about and how have you found touring with them so far?
This Time Next Year just dropped out of the tour it was real last minute stuff, A loss for words are real good friends of ours, we have known them for 10 years and they only live half an hour down the road from us, Don Broco its our first tour, but there nice guys and they played well last night.

It has been announced that you will be back in the summer to support Blink 182 how did this come about, and how much are you looking forward to the shows?
Definitely looking forward to it a lot, I'm not sure how it came about but about 2 years ago Mark Hoppus invited us to come on his show, we did that, and shortly after we got an offer from them, then the tour was postponed, and its rescheduled now.

The Blink 182 shows coincide with the UK festival season; can we expect to see you playing some festivals this year?
Were not sure yet, hopefully we will do, festivals over here are a blast.

Where do you hope to see Four Year Strong in a year’s time?
Were sort of at a weird point where we are not taking things as they've come, were trying to go full circle being more DIY, releasing our records by ourselves, doing as much stuff as we can on ourselves and have fun.

What's your opinion on the whole anti piracy laws thing going on at the moment?
Its a tough one, I get it, obviously the record industry is crashing at the moment, major labels are on the way out, its evolution, it is what it is and bands have to find a way of doing it, we make the bulk of our money to survive from touring and merch, if we didn't tour we'd have nothing, to keep going we have to keep touring, luckily we enjoy that. I think if they had done right after it became a problem it would have been one thing but its so far gone now its like what are you doing, its like taking a step backwards now, its not gonna effect us too much, CDs are coming to an end now and digital has taken over, we just want people to hear the music and come to the shows, as long as people support live music, I don't care!

One last random question that we ask every band, if you could be an animal out of a Zebra or a Giraffe which would you be and why?
Its a tough question,ummmm a giraffe I don't know why, they look pretty awesome,

Thanks for your time is there a message for your fans reading this?
Please keep supporting us and well keep playing over here, since our first time here its always been amazing, we get treated amazingly well and people are so respectful it shows at our shows.

Interview by Robert Lawrence