Frikkin’ Awesome Return of Under-rated Hard Rockers
I must make a confession to start: I absolutely love this band, so any review is automatically somewhat suspect. That being said, I shall try to be objective.
The band’s sound has a certain energy to it that is highly infectious. With each new album, they are honing their craft closer to perfection. Their eponymous first album had a couple of good songs, while the sophomore release, 2006’s One-X, had some truly awesome tracks like “Animal I Have Become” and “Riot” to name but two, cementing the band in the echelons of true players in the harder end of the radio-rock spectrum.
Life Starts Now grows on this progression, offering even more catchy tunes. Each song on this album is worthy of attention and repeat listens. The structures are clearly more designed for radio (“World So Cold” and “Someone Who Cares”, for example, are quite repetitive), but the songs do not suffer from this at all. Linkin Park’s recent output has suffered, as they now produce pretty uninspiring pop-rock/-metal that is simplistic and forgettable. Three Days Grace have at least managed to retain some of their edge and gruffness, while also enhancing their hooks and accessibility. The choruses are still huge, the vocals still arresting and varied, and the musicianship is confident and immediate.
Few albums have lived up to my expectations in the past couple of years, but it is safe to say that Life Starts Now has affirmed my confidence in Three Days Grace. They should have a long and successful career ahead of them. Songs such as “Break” (the lead single) and “Bitter Taste” are immediate singles, and if they don’t have you at least nodding your head along, then chances are you’re dead inside.
Highly recommended.
For Fans of: Shinedown, Soil, Drowning Pool, Sick Puppies, Finger Eleven
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