Toronto band Three Days Grace burns the rule book and goes their own way. Their album Explosions is a vivid portrayal of anxiety and feeling weighed under. Musically the record has those powerful riffs and technicalities, and lyrically there are moments where the story becomes interesting, and then there are moments when it can fade out. The words don’t topple over into a mess, but they’re jumbled at times, and seem the band have tried too hard to be poetic.

The band has made its mark on the scene over the years, bringing forward their own sound, and in terms of album sales, they’re right up there. They’ve also garnered a fanbase, one still growing, and that should be noticed, but Explosions lacks the colossal hooks the band is renowned for. It’s repetitive at times, with the tracks sounding basic, and lyrics showing a lack of thought.

Explosions doesn’t pepper the landscape of rock with ingenuity and originality, it serves as a decent record, creating moments of infectiousness. But that’s all we get, and it’s a shame, because it could have been great. The band has it in them to design something colossal, something that could make them throw down the gauntlet.

“So Called Life” starts off the record in a riff infused fashion. The lyrics instantly fade away as jumbled statements. The vocals are fine, and the screams add intensity. It isn’t a special opening. “A Scar Is Born” has some layers, and the band seems confident here. Again, lyrically, the song burns out. The riffs are appealing and increase the tension. “Redemption” starts with subtle edges, and the vocals feature emotion and soothing notes. Lyrically, there are moments when everything clicks.

Three Days Grace may be a massive band in terms of exposure, but their record Explosions doesn’t live up to the hype. 

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