Nickelback
Dark Horse

Release Date: 2008 | Tracklist

A high energy rock album that soars in places but gets bogged down with repetitive subject matter throughout.

Nickelback are a band that ultimately chases mainstream success so how do you follow up a staggeringly popular album like 'All the Right Reasons' (2005) ? Dark Horse isn't the obvious follow up that you would expect. While 'All the Right Reasons' had many a solid rock song, it was populated by a sea of ready for radio pop anthems like 'Photograph', 'Far Away' and 'Rockstar' and a range of varying subject matter. While Dark Horse has plenty of those made for radio hits too, the album as a whole feels like a much meaner and raunchier experience. The album spends way too much time on repetitive sexual songs. Some of these songs are admittedly catchy but by the fourth one you feel like Kroeger hasn't much to write about. 'Something In Your Mouth' is a song that I expected to dislike but from its infectious opening riff to the fist pumping chorus I was won over. The other songs that dwell on getting frisky are less memorable though and just feel like album fillers that lessen the album's overall appeal.

The best moments on Dark Horse are the more melodic songs. 'Gotta Be Somebody' is the lead pop single on the album and while it's subject matter of looking for love is nothing new, its still a terrific ballad. Daniel Adair (drummer) and Ryan Peake (guitarist) add splendid backing vocals to the song and really bring it home. Another key track on the album is 'If Today Was Your Last Day'. It's another tried and tested subject to sing about (living each day as if it's your last), but Kroeger's lyrical approach always adds a bit more depth among some of the admittedly Hallmark style words of wisdom. Another gem on the album is 'I'd Come For You', a solid love ballad that becomes even more powerful after you see the terrific music video.

Thankfully its not all about sex and moody ballads, the band inject some much needed humour and straight up rock into the mix. 'Burn It to The Ground' is the sort of classic rock anthem that would fit in perfectly with the likes of Def Leppard and Kiss at their prime. It's a song about drinking lots and lots of alcohol and by the end of it you'll be begging to hit the bar. 'This Afternoon' is another party song but it's much more chilled out compared to the more confrontational 'Burn It to The Ground' and makes for a refreshing way to end the album. My main issue with Dark Horse is the lack of lyrical variety, a problem that I never had with the far superior 'All the Right Reasons'. While I like most of 'Dark Horse', I only love some of it.

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1.7 very poor

Rank: #0 for 2008