We already knew One Direction was finding inspiration from folk and '80s-arena rock for their upcoming FOUR album and the guys strike the perfect balance between the musical muses on new cut "Ready to Run."

With an opening that sounds quite similar to Green Day's "Good Riddance," the guys deliver a set of stirring harmonies reminiscent of the laid-back vibe we heard in FOUR track "Fireproof." We then move into the guys singing their signature, swoon-worthy lyrics ("Without you I'll never make it out alive") over a blend of twangy guitar strums and electric picking.

Soon enough, an epic drum breakdown sends the song into its arena-ready chorus that comes with even harder-hitting percussion and electric guitar centered around the uplifting chorus. The bridge is an aural highlight that blends a heap of haunting harmonies, epic guitar and some big-time belts from the boys.

Co-penned by Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne, "Ready to Run" is the latest taste of FOUR and is one of four (!) countdown singles 1D will release before dropping the full record.

Stay tuned to everything you need to know about FOUR inside our Complete Guide to the album.

One Direction's Evolution in 25 Pics

Let's take a look back at the guys' incredible (and sickeningly cute) journey from 'The X Factor' hopefuls to the biggest boy band in the world

March 25, 2015
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: X Factor's boy band One Direction are seen at the 'X Factor' studio for the live filming of the

October 2010

Just months after being assembled on season 7 of 'The X Factor,' 1D already looked like a family. A super awkward, dorky, adorable family. (If you're wondering why they're sporting eyeliner, look up their Halloween performance from the show -- you won't be sorry.) more »

Danny Martindale/FilmMagic

X-Factor finalists One Direction (L-R) Niall Horran, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zain Malik attend the Very

November 2010

Talk about the ultimate "before" picture. R.I.P. Liam's Bieber hair, you are gone but not forgotten. more »

JAB Promotions/Getty Images

(L-R) Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson,Zayn Malik, Harry Styles And Liam Payne Of 'One Direction' Arriving For The Royal Premiere

November 2010

This might have been the first time the world saw 1D all suited up like proper young gents, but as we all know now, they've only gotten sharper and sexier since then. more »

John Phillips/UK Press via Getty Images

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: (UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT) Boyband One Direstion pose with Simon Cowell (C) for a photocall t

December 2010

Just before the 'X Factor' Final where the boys would be heartwrenchingly eliminated after 10 weeks of competition, they posed with mentor Simon Cowell, who was single-handedly responsible for the band's formation. Which reminds us, we owe him a thank-you note... more »

Dave Hogan/Getty Images

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 07: Our Official X-Factor Story' at HMV on March 7, 2011 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shirl

March 2011

Liam's hair! Harry's t-shirt! Niall's dumb scarf! Their angelic baby faces! We're sorry, but this photo makes us fangirl all over ourselves. more »

Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 11: Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Zian Malik of One Direction

September 2011

The boys launched their first single, "What Makes You Beautiful" to tremendous success in the U.K. in 2011. In 2012, the single would make its way across the pond and ignite the 'Direction Infection' here in the States. more »

Fred Duval/FilmMagic

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 11: Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zian Malik and Liam Payne of One Direction

September 2011

There they go again. Being totally idiotic and adorable and childish and charming all at once. Ugh, you guyssssss more »

Fred Duval/FilmMagic

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 09: (UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT) Harry Styles, Zain Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Niall Hor

October 2011

Seriously with these puppy faces? Get out of here, we can't even deal with you. more »

Dave Hogan/Getty Images

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 22: Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik of One Direction p

January 2012

The "Up All Night" Tour was 1D's first ever headlining tour; the DVD of which would top the charts in 25 countries and sell over one million copies in a matter of three months. Although, we may or may not have bought a million copies just on our own. more »

Joseph Okpako/FilmMagic

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 22: Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik of One Direction pe

April 2012

Does something look off about this photo? 1D die-hards fondly remember "Up All Night" Tour as the era of the boys' playful onstage outfit swaps. (If you can't remember whose clothes are whose, click the 'previous' button. Or better yet, ask a Directioner.) more »

Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: (UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT) L-R Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Tomlinson and Liam

February 2012

We're not sure exactly when those dorky little teenage mop-heads morphed into full-on GQ superbabes, but hot damn, we could not be more impressed (or grateful) that they did. more »

Dave Hogan/Getty Images

TODAY -- Pictured: Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire)

March 2012

The boys made their American television debut on the Today show, a performance that any Directioner will tell you was one of the most iconic moments of their career so far. See the way they look like they're glowing? That's because they were sent from heaven. more »

Peter Kramer/NBC/Getty Images

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- "Sofia Vergara" Episode 1616 -- Pictured: Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)

April 2012

When the boys made their late night TV debut on Saturday Night Live, they looked so adorably nervous that it made our hearts melt. Fortunately, they nailed both of their performances AND a hilarious guest spot in a sketch that night. They'll be returning to SNL this December! more »

Dana Edelson/NBC/Getty Images

SUN VALLEY, CA - APRIL 01: Singers Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson of One Direction att

April 2012

Furthering their reputation as the cutest band in the entire universe, 1D performed a surprise acoustic show at a diner, where they looked and sounded like LITERAL ANGELS. more »

Jesse Grant/WireImage

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 23: (L-R) Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, and Liam Payne of the band One Direction

May 2012

The first time they attended a proper U.S. movie premiere, the boys brought out the big guns. Nerf guns, that is. Take that, paparazzi! more »

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

One Direction performs at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/

June 2012

After becoming the first U.K. act to ever debut an album at #1 on Billboard, the boys set out on their first ever North American headlining tour, which sold out nearly every stop it made. NBD. more »

Stephen M. Dowell/Getty Images

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik of One Dir

September 2012

By the end of last summer, the lads had released "Live While We're Young" to wild success around the world, and had just announced their impending sophomore album 'Take Me Home,' ensuring audiences everywhere that the 1D train would not be slowing down any time soon. more »

Jo Hale/Redferns via Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 06: One Direction wins award during the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards at Staples Center on Septembe

September 2012

Sigh. We wish we could tell you we don't still get all warm and fuzzy inside every time we remember the boys' first win at the VMA's, but that would make us big fat horrible liars. more »

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

TODAY -- Pictured: Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire)

November 2012

Less than a year after their Today show debut, 1D made an even more triumphant return, drawing a record-breaking crowd of 15,000 screaming fans -- some of whom had been camped out for as long as a week. Truthfully, we can't say we wouldn't do the same. more »

Peter Kramer/NBC/Getty Images

HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 8: (L-R) Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Liam Payne of British singing gr

November 2012

Two years after placing 3rd in their own season of 'The X Factor' in the U.K., it seemed downright poetic when 1D was asked to perform on the U.S. version of the show not once, but twice in one season. more »

FOX via Getty Images

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 20: Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Niall Horan of One Direction accept

February 2013

Can you feel the love? Yes. Yes you can. more »

Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 11: (L-R) Singers Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan of One Di

August 2013

Here are the guys picking up another surfboard at the Teen Choice Awards 2013. Fun Fact: One Direction has won all 19 (!!!) awards they've been nominated for at the fan-voted ceremony. 

more »

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles fro

November 2013

Not only do they have No. 1 albums, 1D's books are chart-toppers too. The band's first book released in America, Dare to Dream: Life as One Direction, topped te New York Times Best Seller list. Here they are adorably promoting 2013's Where We Are. 

more »

Karwai Tang/WireImage

LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Recording artists Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson

September 2014

One of the act's last major fest gigs as a five-piece at the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas.

more »

Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

One Direction appear on NBC's Today Show to release their new album 'Four' at Universal City Walk At Universal Orlando on Nov

November 2014

After Zayn Malik announced his departure from the band, One Direction continued on as a quartet with members Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Thomlinson and Niall Horan. "We're really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision," his band mates said in a statement. "We've gone through so much together, so we will always be friends."

more »

Jeff Daly/NBC via Getty Images

Tags: , , ,