Alienation
Three Days Grace
Adam Gontier is back in Three Days Grace, and Matt Walst has stayed. That gives Alienation a more interesting starting point than a straightforward reunion. The two singers have different kinds of weight in their voices, and the strongest songs make good use of the space between them.
Dominate opens with a heavy riff and a clear division of roles. Gontier gives the verses their rougher edge, while Walst helps lift the chorus. The combination feels natural, and the song gets its energy from the performance as much as the production.
Mayday is another strong example. The voices reinforce the feeling of being under pressure, with a chorus that gives the frustration somewhere to go. This is familiar territory for Three Days Grace, but the extra vocal personality makes the song feel more involved.
Kill Me Fast takes a more exposed route. The arrangement leaves room for Gontier to carry the uncertainty in the words, and the larger chorus makes sense as an emotional release. In Waves deals with grief and the lingering presence of somebody who is gone. It's one of the album's more affecting moments because the feeling is direct and easy to understand.
The title track reconnects with the darker post-grunge side of the band. The themes of isolation fit the sound well, and the guitars give the melody a strong foundation. Never Ordinary offers a more hopeful variation on the feeling of being an outsider, with Lindsey Stirling adding violin to the arrangement.
The dual-vocal setup doesn't completely change the songwriting. Several songs still use very familiar shapes, and the repeated language of struggle can make them feel less individual. The record works best when a specific feeling or a clear exchange between the singers gives the song its own character.
Alienation makes a convincing case for the current lineup. It has strong hooks, a few genuinely affecting songs and two voices that work well together. The band have found a useful way to bring their different periods into the same room.
