Three Days Grace
One-X

THE REVIEW

The Three Days Grace are:

Adam Gontier (vocals and guitar)
Brad Walst (bass)
Neil Sanderson (drums)
Barry Stock (guitar).

Well, I am very happy to be the first to try to review this album and specifically this band. They are Three Days Grace, formed in Norwood, Ontario, Canada, in 1992, first under the pseudonym Groundswell, then, once they moved to Toronto in 1997, under their current and definitive name.

This is their second album, the follow-up to their self-titled 2003 album “Three Days Grace”, a good record, which already exuded talent from every note but still had that raw edge, which is a normal thing for the first work of an emerging group like them. "One-X" is in my opinion truly an excellent work, confirming the quality leap everyone expected, that artistic maturity that was already obvious three years ago. The songs are more aggressive but also leave room for melody, the guitars play wonderfully in symbiosis with the drums and the beautiful rock voice of Adam Gontier, the frontman of the group. His tone vaguely recalls Kurt Cobain but has its own character, giving the sung words the effect they deserve.

The album opens with the first track “It’s All Over”, the music begins with the slow and distant screeching of Barry Stock’s guitar, which immediately makes itself heard with a powerful sound that characterizes the whole piece, followed by “Pain”, the second single extracted from the album, where the powerful riffs of the guitars alternate with a melodic plucking that accompanies Gontier's singing, which at times recalls the voice of Lauri Ylonen, frontman of “The Rasmus”. The third track is the first single extracted “Animal I Have Become”, in my view the least significant piece, given the very monotonous and sparse lyrics, where Gontier does nothing but repeat he has an animal inside that obsesses him. Brad Walst's bass is very appreciable in the first notes, which, due to its dominance, recalls their debut single “I Hate Everything About You”. Then comes “Never Too Late”, which kicks off the real album; not that there wasn't quality before but in my opinion from this track onwards, the real progress made by Gontier and his companions stands out. The piece opens with an acoustic guitar, then flows into the powerful riffs of both electric guitars, which along the way, intertwine with the acoustics and Neil Sanderson's excellent drum, giving life to a stunning sound. “On My Own” slows down the pace but not completely, the guitars with their "hiccup" sound, shake the choruses. “Riot” wakes us up, opening with metal sounds as a carpet to Gontier's voice, then exploding into powerful riffs on the short choruses. “Get Out Alive” has a "ballad" mold, although this is partly contradicted by the usual rock character, especially towards the end where there's an explosion that wouldn't leave even a stone still! Charging ahead with “Let It Die” which opens melodically with the singer's beautiful voice, alternating with energetic riffs and acoustic guitar, then “Over & Over” enriched by a background of strings that here and there accompany the voice. This is the real ballad, a very melodic piece. “Time Of Dying” brings us back on track, Gontier unleashes, his hoarse voice accompanies another great rock/metal piece. In the penultimate position, “Gone Forever” which in some fragments recalls some pieces of Good Charlotte, regarding certain choral parts. Nothing that makes it less impressive, also because the music is gritty and splendidly performed as usual. The last track, which also gives the name to the album, is “One-X”, which closes the work worthily. Starting with a suggestive and slow murmur created by the snare drum and bass drum, it flows into the usual delightful alternation of energetic guitars, which seem to backdrop what I consider one of the most beautiful rock voices currently around. Here critiques will rain down (and not only here), but I truly believe that Gontier has an important voice, without which the album wouldn't have this quality.

In conclusion, I believe I have already extensively expressed my thoughts regarding this work, which I consider truly excellent. I've been listening to it for days in the car and at home (unfortunately not at work) and I'm more and more convinced that the four guys from Norwood will keep us talking about them in these terms. In the current rock landscape, unfortunately, quality often lacks and everything becomes too commercial and it's maddening to think that bands like Three Days Grace are so little known in Italy (and perhaps also in Europe).

The worst part is that even if you wanted to, unless you're lucky enough to take a nice month-long trip to the States, it won’t be possible to hear this band live in the Belpaese... maybe one day. Let's hope we're not so old that we can’t hear them!
Anyway, well done guys, keep it up.