Review Summary: "Human" seems to be nothing short of average, desperate, and disappointing.
Back in early 2013, it was announced that singer Adam Gontier would no longer be the frontman for the band Three Days Grace. In 2014, it was announced that Matt Walst, singer of My Darkest Days, would be replacing Gontier as the lead singer. This had already struck me as a form a bias being that the singer was the bassist’s brother and it honestly felt as though they didn’t really look for someone who fit their type of musical style.
Even with the return of Gavin Brown who had helped produce their self-titled debut back in 2003, this album fell short of what was to be expected. The singles released prior to the album seemed promising, especially “Painkiller.” Sporting heavy instrumentals and aggressive vocals from the band’s new singer. “I Am Machine” certainly fell short when comparing lyrical quality, but seemed to present better and heavier instrumentals. The vocals seemed force and as though Walst was desperately trying to mimic Gontier’s vocals that had made the band so popular. Then came the final single and opening track “Human Race,” which seemed as though they were going for a more experimental route. Though it is certainly catchy, it is extremely repetitive. “Started with a kick and a punch, a claw to the face, and I was in the race, I was in the race, yeah, yeah,” being spouted in both verses.
Like “I Am Machine” there are several songs that seems as though Walst is forcing himself like “Tell Me Why” and “Nothing’s Fair in Love and War”. Other songs like “So What” and “One Too Many” shows Walst presenting a conceded and douchebaggy vibe to the music. These can be compared to bands whose dominant musical themes involve teenage angst and “I’m better than everyone else.”
“Human” seems to be the sign that says Three Days Grace has reached what should be the end. With a lazy and desperate attempt to appear as though their signature sound was coming back and going to have something new in the mix. Decent instrumentals do not make up for the cheap and generic lyrical content provided with them. This was a disappointment and, in my opinion, should be the final album to come from Three Days Grace.
