Explosions is the seventh studio album by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released on May 6, 2022, through RCA Records. The album was produced by Howard Benson and by members of the band.
Background and recording
The band announced their seventh studio album, Explosions, after the release of "So Called Life". They also announced tour dates for the spring that will take place in April and May 2022. In February 2022, the band officially revealed the track list and the cover art for the album.
The group began writing the album in February 2020. According to bassist Brad Walst, the album is about, "That feeling inside, like you're gonna explode." He explained the process of recording the album, "We didn’t see each other for the longest time. We recorded nine or ten songs separately, in different studios, and by ourselves, which we’ve never done before." According to Walst, the album has the heaviest songs they've ever written and reminded him of their debut album. Drummer Neil Sanderson talked about what inspired the record with Loudwire, "There is a common thread of theme going through it — the notion of just feeling like you have to self-center yourself in today's world, but then at the same time, you have to hear the opinions of everyone."
Singles
"So Called Life" is the first single released from the album. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart for four consecutive weeks marking the band's 16th number one on the chart. "Neurotic" was released on February 17, 2022, as a promotional single. The second official single "Lifetime" was released on April 11, 2022. The song was dedicated to the people of Mayfield, Kentucky after an EF4 tornado hit the city in December 2021. The song peaked at number 1 both on active and mainstream rock charts making it the bands 17th number 1 on the charts. The third single, "I Am the Weapon" was released on September 27, 2022.
Critical reception
Explosions has been received with positive reviews. Rock N' Load gave the album a 9/10 rating complimenting Matt Walst's vocals on songs such as "Lifetime" and "A Scar is Born". Timothy Monger of AllMusic remarked, "the album feels like a continuation of the gritty, aggressive rock that has been the group's hallmark since the beginning." To date, the album has sold 44,000 equivalent album units in the US.
Awards and nominations
Track listing
All lyrics written by Three Days Grace and Ted Bruner, all music written by Three Days Grace and Ted Bruner, except when noted.
Personnel
Credits retrieved from album's liner notes.
Three Days Grace
Matt Walst – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, composer, lyricist, producer
Barry Stock – lead guitar, composer, lyricist, producer
Brad Walst – bass guitar, composer, lyricist, producer
Neil Sanderson – drums, backing vocals, piano, composer, producer, programmer
Additional musicians
Lukas Rossi – guest vocals , composer, lyricist
Eicca Toppinen – rhythm cello
Paavo Lötjönen – rhythm/bass cello
Perttu Kivilaakso – lead cello
Mikko Sirén – drums, percussion
Lenny Castro – percussion
Matthew Kelly – steel guitar
Jet Sanderson – additional vocals
Additional personnel
Howard Benson – producer, organ
Ted Jensen – mastering (Sterling Sound, Nashville, Tennessee) Dan Lancaster – mixing engineer Ted Bruner – composer, lyricist, programmer Mike Plotnikoff – recording engineer Hatch Inagaki – assistant engineer Rhys May – assistant engineer Paul DeCarli - editor Darren Magierowski – additional production / engineer Jill Zimmermann – additional production / engineer Jay Wud – programming