When it comes to veterans in the Christian rock scene, few names come up as frequently as San Diego based Switchfoot. Since Fading West in 2013, the band's releases have shied away from full-blown rock albums, though, leaning into more alternative (interrobang) and pop styles (Fading West and much of Native Tongue). Even with the rock songs they have done in recent years -- consider "Let It Happen" or "Last Man Standing," for example -- this reviewer would say that such efforts landed among the weaker songs the band has released. In light of such choices, some fans likely have wondered if Switchfoot would ever step back fully into the feel of an album like Nothing Is Sound or Hello Hurricane; perhaps that rock-focused sound was just an era of their music never to return again prominently. However, Switchfoot silences such thoughts and turns a corner with Forever Now, a title taken from a phrase repeated in their previous songs "Afterlife" and "Where I Belong," by unashamedly returning to their rock roots and releasing one of the strongest records of their career.

Right out of the gate, the high energy lead singles "Wake Up, Mr. Crow" and "Absolution" blaze the path forward. With 45 seconds of instrumentation prior to a single lyric in the opener, the listener is prepared for an upbeat and guitar-rich record. The latter -- one of the album's biggest highlights -- carries a bit of a Relient K feel and describes the beauty of being able to come to God even when we are at our lowest points. The opening two tracks feel similar to "Needle and Haystack Life" and "Mess of Me," from Hello Hurricane, which fits considering the band worked with producer Mike Elizondo both on that project and this one. If those two songs do not keep the listener in their seat, "Shake the Dust" pushes past the bounds of where Switchfoot has gone before, offering arguably the hardest rocking track of the band's career. Tim Foreman provides some stellar bass throughout the song, and the entire band jams out right before the bridge to a degree not overly comparable to other moments in their discography. Jon Foreman then resumes his vocals and delivers the bridge, which ends with quite the drum fill from Chad Butler before returning to the chorus. The track features all-around top notch musicianship and stands out even among the strong tracks throughout the album. "Same Blood" also exemplifies fantastic rock returning to the forefront. Reminiscent of the dark, almost spooky sound of "wolves" on interrobang, "Same Blood" puts a rock spin on that concept, and the weird yet groovy offering fares much better than its slower predecessor. "Ride or Die" feels like a perfect concert song with its head-bopping beat and the fact that this reviewer can already hear the audience singing along to the easily repeatable and catchy refrain of "Be my ride or die," as well as the "Ba ba ba ba" lines throughout the track. Not only are these sorts of songs a breath of fresh air for those craving more dedicated rock from Switchfoot, but they could be discussed alongside the band's biggest rock hits to date, such as "Stars," "The Sound," and "Dark Horses."

As someone who knows Switchfoot's music would expect, Forever Now brings plenty of lyrical highpoints as well. "Beautiful Life" makes this reviewer misty-eyed even after repeated listens, as Foreman sings these lines of encouragement and hope: "Remember this: in the darkness there's always a light / Remember this: that you're never alone / Love is the voice that's guiding you home / Remember this: don't run from the fight / Here comes that morning light." In the way that songs like "Love Is The Movement" and "Live It Well" have served as anthems for their fanbase, "Beautiful Life" has the potential to develop a similar reputation. The song leaning most into surf rock, "YFWYA" (standing for "You Forgot Who You Are"), serves as a reminder of the identity we have in God, but often forget or misplace: "You were made in the image of the one who loves you / … / You know that you're made out of matter and space / But you're more than just atoms with a pretty face and oh / You forgot who you are / You've forgotten what you know by heart." Later on, "Two Twins," a track the avid fan may remember from a band livestream or Jon Foreman solo show, brings the listener into a unique thought experiment where developing twins in the womb discuss what life may or may not be once they are born. Whether uplifting or intellectually stimulating, the lyrics on Forever Now live up to the high bar of Switchfoot lyricism that often resembles poetry more than standard song lyrics.

The biggest surprise comes in the penultimate track, "Breaking Up Again." The one-and-a-half-minute interlude has the feel of a Jon Foreman solo or side project tune (at the risk of obscurity, imagine a combination of "War In My Blood," "Antidote," and "The Moon Is A Magnet"). The stripped-down acoustic nature varies significantly from the other twelve songs, but the thought-provoking idea of Foreman filing for divorce from himself manages to remain relevant in the track listing and follows up the concept of "Two Twins" well.

A review of this album cannot end without mentioning the closer, "The Butterfly Effect." This final track excels in tying Forever Now together by calling back to the idea introduced in "Wake Up, Mr. Crow" that we need to be attentive to the current moment because life is precious and could escape us when we least expect it. Apart from working well thematically, incorporating the riff from "Wake Up, Mr. Crow" and hearing Jon scream the opener's title towards the end of "The Butterfly Effect" further aids in packaging the album together nicely; it reminds the listener of similar creative choices in Hello Hurricane and Vice Verses to call back to the opening song in the closer. These touches give the project a proper sense of completeness and closure at the conclusion of the song.

Fans who have followed Switchfoot both in the height of their popularity and in their more recent albums may have wondered if the band left most of their rock sound behind after Vice Verses, but Forever Now emphatically responds to those doubts with a strong "no." This album is, without question, the hardest rocking record they have ever done, an impressive feat at this point in their career. Furthermore, it contains no glaring weaknesses in the track listing and remains enjoyable from start to finish, making it easily their best collection since Vice Verses. Switchfoot has returned to their quintessential sound on Forever Now, and any rock and roll fans who stopped following the band after Vice Verses would miss out if they choose not to give them another chance on one of the finest hours in their discography. In fact, given time, some may even consider it their favorite Switchfoot album.

- Review date: 6/22/26, written by Noah Schmidt of Jesusfreakhideout.com