Three Days Grace CD

Three Days Grace: Adam, Neil, Brad.
Recorded at Longview Farm Studios, North Brookfield, Massachusetts; Bearsville Studios, Woodstock, New York; Vespa Studios and A Room Full Of Stuff Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Limited edition. Includes bonus DVD.
Three Days Grace's self-titled debut showcases the simplicity of their music, which is both the band's biggest strength and biggest weakness. The album's taut arrangements and grinding but melodic sound are quintessential alt-metal, suggesting a much poppier, less cerebral Helmet (or among Three Days Grace's contemporaries, Chevelle), and while the production is mostly simple and crunchy, it occasionally delves into Linkin Park-like atmospheres. At its best, the band's focus and adherence to alt-metal's formulas -- coupled with tight songwriting and some unexpectedly pretty choruses -- results in a strong tracks that are more memorable than the work of many of their peers. "I Hate Everything About You" was Three Days Grace's big single and remains the band's best song, gaining most of its power from its directness and bluntness in examining a dysfunctional relationship. Though there's nothing else quite as strong on the rest of the album, "Born Like This," "Just Like You," and "Scared" are also good examples of the band's surprisingly hooky songwriting. However, when the songwriting isn't quite up to par, Three Days Grace's simplicity becomes more generic than focused. The cookie-cutter angst of song titles like "Burn," "Drown," and "Now or Never" and lyrics like "Home"'s "By the time you come home/I'm already stoned/I can hardly wait to leave this place" may tap into the feelings of the band's audience, but they're not especially distinctive. The album's second half falters a bit when compared to the punch of Three Days Grace's first few songs, although the power ballads "Take Me Under" and "Wake Up" show that the band is equally good at (somewhat) quieter songs as well as loud ones. Although this debut is a little uneven, it's also promising. Three Days Grace are definitely one of the most accessible alt-metal bands of the 2000s; they just need to add some more distinctiveness to their sound. ~ Heather Phares
When it comes to heavy-metal lyrics, historically there have been but a few options. If one isn't inclined to go the ever popular, Iron Maiden-approved demons and wizards route, he or she is really only left with Kiss-style macho chest-pounding, or bleak alienation of the type perfected by Metallica. With its self-titled U.S. debut album, THREE DAYS GRACE manages to add a fourth option by combining ultra-stripped-down, de-tuned monster riffs in the very best Black Sabbath/Melvins tradition with emo-esque, heart-on-the-sleeve, diary-like poetry worthy of a Deep Elm Records release. In addition, these north-of-the-border boys add a snap-tight, chorus pedal-heavy production sheen that recalls the greatest of all Canadian hard-rock trios, Rush (particularly that band's excellent, but oft-overlooked, 1990s albums COUNTERPARTS and TEST FOR ECHO). By combining the best elements of metal and emo, two often-opposing genres, THREE DAYS GRACE breathe new life into both styles.