After three albums, The Script has become an established, radio-friendly Irish rock band. Their fourth effort, No Sound Without Silence, released last Tuesday, features their usual mix of rock, pop and rhythm and blues. The band continues their successful run with another album of energetic, stadium-worthy songs with earnest lyrics.

Lead vocalist Danny O’Donoghue, guitarist and vocalist Mark Sheehan and drummer Glen Power, all hailing from Dublin, had breakout hits with “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” and “Breakeven” from their self-titled 2008 debut album, and their second album, 2010’s Science & Faith, spawned several radio hits. #3, their aptly titled 2012 third album, only generated one hit: the will.i.am.-aided power anthem “Hall of Fame.”

“Superheroes,” the lead single from No Sound, has similar themes as “Hall of Fame,” minus the rap. Both songs grapple with reaching one’s full potential. “When you’ve been struggling to make things right / that’s how a superhero learns to fly,” O’Donoghue sings about overcoming adversity. Coupled with catchy hooks, the sometimes trite lyrics still convey the message effectively.

While their first album was almost entirely about lost love, the band seems to have fallen into happier times. In No Sound, “Army of Angels” describes love as a “shield” from the world’s hardships. “Never Seen Anything Quite Like You” is simply about loving someone, with no bombs exploding or bullets flying, as is common in their other songs. Stripped down, O’Donoghue’s voice is at its best here with its acoustic backing. 

That is not to say that there are not any bleak moments in the album. “No Good in Goodbye” is a standard Script ballad about being lonely post-breakup. It doesn’t hit as hard as their earlier songs with similar themes. “I can’t take the ache from heartache” is not as clever as “When a heart breaks / it don’t break even” from their 2008 chart-topping hit “Breakeven.” 

“It’s Not Right for You” and “The Energy Never Dies” present as mixes between melancholy and optimism. The former describes realizing that your current life is not enough, wanting more and actively changing things. Similar to their earlier song “Live Like Your Dying,” which was made popular by American Idol winner Kris Allen, “The Energy Never Dies” is about living in the moment even though “we could all be blown to pieces / because time’s a ticking bomb.” The song conveys some bleak imagery, but that is common, even in the band’s more upbeat moments.

“Hail, Rain or Sunshine” is one of the band’s most cheerful, happy songs to date. Written for the Irish film Mrs. Brown’s Boys (2014), the song is about enjoying time with friends and being content with life.

A quieter moment comes with “Flares,” a piano-driven ballad co-written and produced by OneRepublic front man Ryan Tedder, lending his hit-making skills to his fellow tour mates; the Script opened for Tedder’s band this summer on the Native tour. The sparse arrangement complements the soaring chorus of “Did you see the sparks filled with hope? You are not alone/‘cause someone’s out there/sending out flares.” 

The album’s strong point comes from “Paint the Town Green,” with a distinctly Irish beat, featuring Celtic instrumentation and complete with handclaps and “Heys.” The lyrics clearly depict the band’s experience being away from Dublin and trying to bring their hometown to anywhere they are. “We’ll travel on the subway/like it was the Luas line…turn this city into Dublin / wherever we may be,” are relatable lyrics for anyone that has felt homesick in another city or country.

“Without Those Songs,” another acoustic track, is an interesting tribute to several of music’s greats. “Would Sinatra be just a gangster or would Jackson be just a dancer / without those songs?” O’Donoghue asks. Whether or not the band is trying to put itself in the same league or admit that they are not at that level, the song is about music in general and the impact that great artists have, even after they are no longer alive.

Sheehan, who contributed vocals and rapped on a lot of the previous album’s tracks, is less present in No Sound Without Silence. He has a line here or there, including in “Superheroes,” but this album sounds the most like their debut, with O’Donoghue doing the majority of the singing.

While most of the album sticks to the band’s patented formula, the departure from sad, heartbroken songs is refreshing. After three successful albums and sold-out tours, they seem to know what works.