Outsider
Outsider gives Three Days Grace's familiar melodic rock a more obvious electronic background. The guitars remain substantial and the choruses easy to grasp, with Matt Walst sounding confident in the lead role. The record has several effective hooks, although the polished presentation and limited variation stop it making an equally strong impression as a whole.
Right Left Wrong makes a convincing start. The singing gives the opening a clear focus, and the chorus provides the immediate appeal expected from the band. The Mountain continues in a similarly direct manner, with a strong tune and heavier playing.
I Am an Outsider and Infra-Red make good use of that approach. Their broad choruses work alongside the guitars without making the music lose all of its weight. Infra-Red also leaves enough room for the bass to contribute, giving the performance another detail beneath the vocal melody.
Strange Days gains interest from its tighter rhythm. Love Me or Leave Me takes a darker electronic route, but its gradual build is less satisfying. The arrangement repeatedly suggests a larger release without fully delivering it, leaving the song more repetitive than tense.
Villain I'm Not restores some energy through a particularly strong vocal hook. Chasing the First Time adds a more modern pop character to a mid-paced rock setting, while The Abyss closes with eerie synths and forceful drumming.
The main limitation is how little changes beneath the surface. Too many songs move at a similar pace, and the production can make the instruments feel separate rather than part of a single energetic performance. The voice carries material that would benefit from more distinctive instrumental writing.
Even so, Outsider contains enough clear melodies and committed singing to make it worthwhile for listeners who enjoy direct post-grunge rock. Its best songs find a useful balance between weight and accessibility. The album does not develop that balance far enough to feel consistently fresh, but it offers several convincing examples of the band's strengths.
