Review Summary: 3 Doors Down is 'still alive' in their fifth album in as many years since their last studio outing. While feeling very pop-oriented, their hallmark post-grunge tone still resonates in spades.
3 Doors Down is back with their first record in five years, and while they were 'away from the sun', they put out a greatest hits album, and underwent lineup changes. Take out lead guitarist Matt Roberts and bassist Todd Harrell and insert new lead Chet Roberts and new bassist Justin Biltonen, both of whom are making their recorded debut with this new record, 'Us and the Night.' On this record, the revamped roster, still fronted by familiar vocalist Brad Arnold, tries to recapture the pop appeal of their late 90s-early 2000s heyday, and they for the most part succeed.
Lead off track 'The Broken' and lead off single 'In the Dark' essentially appertain the same blueprint; plenty of lead guitar throughout, with a synth-laden tinge that demonstrates the pop appeal they are ever so evidently trying to pass off; aforementioned, they mostly succeed in this facet, and while the music on the surface is solid as always, the attempt to have pop appeal once again feels very forced, almost as if the 3 Doors gang felt it was requisite of them to do so. 'Believe It' opens vaguely similar to 'Running Out of Days' from 2002's 'Away from the Sun.' What makes the two divergent is the difference in pace. 'Believe It' may be a bit middle of the road lyrically, ('I'm gonna be the one I wanted to be, yeah./You better believe it.') but the up-tempo tone and rather high octane instrumentation moves the track along at a very favorable pace, and to its merit, doesn't feel as radio friendly as it's counterparts.
'Living In Your Hell' is very riff-heavy, but Arnold's performance behind the mic is very strong, and it substantiates Arnold as an elite vocalist among the radio rock crowd of their hard rock and post grunge contemporaries. The song succeeds in its simplicity, not trying to wow the listener with any shock value and allows the group to stay grounded ("You promised me my heaven, but I'm living in your hell'). 'Inside of Me' plays like familiar 3 Doors Down; mid-tempo downtrodden ballads may be milked like a cow, but once again, Arnold treats the listener to his strong vocal performance, and on that basis, the track garners itself merit and is actually executed in a much more favorable manner than previous 3 Doors Down ballads.
Overall, the fifth full-length miscellany from the Mississippi grunge outfit marks a return of the post-grunge and stronger radio rock that made their earlier consummations popular among listeners. While 'Us and the Night' might not fully effectuate all of the strong suits that hits like 'Kryptonite' and 'Here Without You' boasted of, this album provides fan with new songs to enjoy, as well as provide a slew of tracks that have the potential to be live show favorites.
