Freshly released on Friday, 22nd August through RCA Records is Three Days Grace’s eighth (ninth when counting the Groundswell days) studio album Alienation. Alienation marks the return of vocalist Adam Gontier following a 2024 reunion and kicks off a new era for the Ontario group as a dual lead vocalist quintet. Hailing from Canada, Three Days Grace are: Adam Gontier (vocals/guitar), Matt Walst (vocals/guitar/keyboard), Barry Stock (guitar), Brad Walst (bass) and Neil Sanderson (drums/keyboard).
Sanderson describes Alienation as “a journey through inner collapse and outward defiance — the songs reflect isolation as a condition of existence, not just circumstance. Some of what we write about, anxiety, addiction, heartbreak, and disconnect, are often a different wave of the same storm. And yet, buried in all the wreckage is something human — still reaching out.” Alienation comprises twelve individual tracks; Sanderson’s mission statement leads us to expect raw emotion and human connection, and considering Three Days Grace’s pedigree in producing both hard rock anthems and beautifully pensive ballads, we couldn’t wait to get stuck into this album.
Track by Track
Dominate
The album opener is called “Dominate”, and what an opener it is. “Dominate” brings the energy from the word go, featuring self-confident lyrics and a hauntingly spangly background guitar hook. This is a classic power anthem. It’s not complex, but it’s exciting, engaging and, most importantly, relatable to anyone that’s ever had to fight their way out of a setback. With the potential to be a real fan-pleaser, “Dominate” will feel equally at home on a gym playlist or on the drive to the office — an excellent soundtrack to meeting challenges big or small absolutely head-on.
Apologies
Second up is “Apologies”. Slower paced than “Dominate”, “Apologies” explores themes of addiction and trauma, delving into how these impact relationships. “Apologies” comes across like a letter written to an estranged partner or family member, putting into words the feeling of desperately wishing to be good enough, despite the many reasons why you can’t be.
Mayday
The third track is “Mayday”. In this track, fans might find similarities with “Animal I Have Become”, a real highlight of the 2006 album One-X. For us, the thumping intro and themes of perseverance through adversity make “Mayday” a high point on this album, too. A catchy riff and subtle keyboard work result in a well-polished anthem.
Kill Me Fast
The fourth track, “Kill Me Fast”, is another hard-rock ballad. “Kill Me Fast” is an excellent showcase of the dual lead-vocal setup, with Gontier and Walst’s contributions quite distinct yet complementary.
In Waves
Fifth track, “In Waves”, is heavy on attitude. The guitar and bass work, especially in the intro and hook, has a sludgy quality to it that puts a moody edge onto what’s otherwise a slower hard-rock piece. Much like the name, the listening experience has the feeling of the energy within the song coming and going in waves, almost a haunting feeling of watching something gradually sink below the surface.
Alienation
Title track “Alienation” is sixth on the listing. A proper anthem brimming with the feeling of trying to make sense of a very uncertain world, “Alienation” lives up to the pressure of being the title track, carrying the overall theme and message of the album well. Distorted guitars and thumping percussion bring head-banging credibility, while the creative use of xylophones in the intro and as an accompaniment to the chorus lends a certain “out of body” experience, complementing the theme of the track and album.
Never Ordinary
The seventh track is “Never Ordinary”. A raw and emotional rock ballad, this song is beautiful throughout. Beginning with soft vocals and a lone guitar, and featuring female backing vocals that give a feeling of tenderness and vulnerability, the track carries an overall message that is relatable for many — feeling like an outcast from society despite so many others going through the same thing. Each individual just expresses that sense of not belonging in their own different ways.
Deathwish
The eighth track is “Deathwish”, which presents as a catchy anthem with a fan-pleasing, easily remembered chorus that is sure to be a hit on the live circuit.
Don’t Wanna Go Home Tonight
Ninth track, “Don’t Wanna Go Home Tonight”, is a nostalgic look back to early / mid-noughties rock ballads. We found favourable comparisons with some of the best work of Nickelback, particularly their 2005 hit “Photograph”. Besides the instrumental composition, the most obvious similarity is the soul-searching lyrics calling back to good times long since lost. Interesting then that a listen through of “Don’t Wanna Go Home Tonight” can take us on that same bittersweet journey. It certainly brought back some memories for us.
In Cold Blood
Parallels with the current work of metalcore powerhouses Architects can be found in the tenth track, “In Cold Blood”. “In Cold Blood” is one of the heavier offerings on the album, which contrasts nicely with the preceding track. If “Don’t Wanna Go Home Tonight” is a look into the past, then “In Cold Blood” is a celebration of the now, a sign of Three Days Grace’s willingness to evolve their sound. The track is another showcase of Gontier and Walst’s dual vocals, which synchronise to contribute a wholly unique sound profile.
The Power
The eleventh track is “The Power”. Another upbeat track with self-confident lyrics, we loved the catchy wording used throughout this track, which has a feeling similar to that given to the listener by the album opener “Dominate”. This really is another portrayal of triumph from adversity, turning weaknesses into strengths to literally “take back the power”.
Another Relapse
Album closer “Another Relapse” takes the message of power from “The Power” and turns it right back around. It’s a statement of just how easy it can be to knock down something that has taken extreme effort to build. Rather than closing off the album, “Another Relapse” leaves it open-ended, either hinting at life moving in cycles (listen through the album again, maybe), or simply that what’s next is unknown. “Another Relapse” is perhaps a reflection of Gontier’s own challenges, a representation of just how hard it can be to close off a particular chapter. It’s a powerful thinking point, if not a closing point.
Final Thoughts
Alienation doesn’t push any new boundaries, but we get the feeling that wasn’t really the intention with this album. Looking back to Sanderson’s statement, Alienation is meant to be a journey, a voyage of self-examination and emotional exploration. It’s not genre-defining or mould-breaking, but what it is, is impactful and relatable. The way the tracks are presented is considered intelligent. For every powerful anthem, there’s a raw or nostalgic ballad, representative of life’s ups and downs.
Listening to Alienation is like being amongst the waves on the ocean, somehow both swimming and sinking in equal measure. What Three Days Grace have always shown they can do exceptionally well is capture real and raw lived experience in their music, and that’s exactly what they’ve done again with Alienation.