Same old story

While listening to Story of the Year’s latest album, “The Constant,” the only thing that came to mind is how much the 15-year-old version of me would love it. Then I realized that 15-year-old me also gushed over “Donnie Darko,” occasionally popped his collar and had an ugly girlfriend. That douche had horrible taste.

While Story of the Year wasn’t as bad as those other things, seven years later, I’ve moved on and the band has not. Titling the album “The Constant” is fitting, as little has changed in the act’s post-hardcore screamo formula.

“The Ghost of You and I” and “To the Burial” lead, with vocalist Dan Marsala alternating between singing and screaming while the rest of the band pumps it up with adrenaline-laced riffs and gang vocals.

Despite an awkward detour into balladry with “Holding on to You,” the album’s latter half is full of solid rock songs. But the fact that they’re interchangeable with anything in the band’s discography voids any lasting effect.