Like many people, my first exposure to THREE DAYS GRACE came with their breakout hit, “I Hate Everything About You.” The debut album never did much for me overall, but that single still makes me grin. Back then, my son was two, and it wasn’t unusual to hear a tiny voice in the backseat chanting, “I… hate… you,” on repeat.
Fast forward to now: Corey is autistic and non-verbal, but he still loves his heavy stuff. In fact, he’s my built-in litmus test for what rips and what flops — he has zero hesitation letting me know when something’s bad.
So here’s the verdict on THREE DAYS GRACE’s latest, ALIENATION: certified winner. Both of us were headbanging to this one deep into the night.
The title track alone is a knockout, but the opening one-two punch of “Dominate” and “Apologies” sets the tone with authority. The message is clear: this band did not come to mess around.
From there, “Never Ordinary” brings emotional depth before “Deathwish” drops like a hammer. “Don’t Wanna Go Home Tonight” lands with a gut punch, a tearjerker, whether you’re mourning someone who passed or someone who walked away. Matt Walst and Adam Gontier shine vocally, elevating an already strong record.
Then comes the brutal pairing of “In Cold Blood” and “Power,” each hitting in the gut and the groin, respectively. Closer “Another Relapse” storms in as a finale and leaves no survivors.
When the dust settles, ALIENATION is a monster home run—one of the best records of 2025, and already a Corey-and-Dad favorite.
STANDOUT TRACKS: All of them
RATING: 10/10
— THE MAESTRO
