Review Summary: Dark Horse lacks the innovation of Nickelback's previous efforts, but keeps the fans interested with some shocking twists.
The year 2008 has thrown in some unexpected twists. With the release of Slipknot's heavy-duty
All Hope Is Gone, Metallica's popular
Death Magnetic and many others, rock and metal fans kept a high head for new surprises to swing by. Nickelback brings their sixth studio album,
Dark Horse to the table with some rather average results. After a good run of selling over 16 million copies in the market, Nickelback drew the attention of the mature crowds. The old Nickelback grew on the media faster than roaches in an apartment. Their sound was relative and easy listening, until
Dark Horse changed up the tone a bit, and decide to experiment with the mainstream sound. Do the people like what they hear now?
The opening track, and pervertedly named
Something In Your Mouth is sex education without the hot and horny teacher explaining the details. Instead, you get a guy called Chad Kroeger. The introduction is no mindblower, especially from the often twitchy guitar riffs and almost off-key drums. Not the perfect beginning for a "promising" amount of rock ballads. However, the following track
Burn It To The Ground is classic bad boy rock. The guitars fly from side to side in your head while a pounding drum roll keeps the mood enraged. The Nickelback sound is drawn out into old school rock. The unexpected twist of the album? Definitely.
Just Get High has the boys once again teaching the teens valuable life lessons, with a hint of musical extravaganza. The message they convey is clear, having to do with the effects of drugs. Chad's vocals are not convincing enough to call it a successful extra-mural topic, but you can't help but appreciate their change in direction.
She ain't no Cinderella while she's getting undressed because she rocks it like the naughty Wicked Witch of the West!
The lyrics above, and highlight of the album is called
Shakin' Hands, and literally screams much commercial attention. The wild guitars kick in with a crowd cheering in the background, and with lyrics as dirty as any normal rap song, its easy to hate from start to finish. Chad Kroeger's vocals are on-track, and keeps a smooth flow with the drums. The chorus is built up of high-tempo guitar shifts and the entire band singing along. A must-listen, and sums up the bulk of the album pretty well.
From start to finish,
Dark Horse flows like an uneven mixtape. One minute you are entitled to hear vulgur lyrics and unimaginative rhyme schemes, to high-end pop and punk ballads, the next minute you're overpowered by street-smart lectures on social awareness. Nickelback's return is risky, and the entire album shows no reason at all why they have decided to record anything new. Its just not Nickelback anymore... Instead, brace yourself for bump-n-grind potty mouths and mainstream supremacy.
Definitely Check out
Burn It To The Ground
Shakin' Hands
S.E.X.
