Music review: 3 Doors Down – 鈥楿s and the Night鈥�
The latest effort from 3 Doors Down is a spirited call to the broken that better days are ahead.
鈥淭his is the call to the broken/Stand up and take back your world today,鈥� declares lead singer Brad Arnold on the stirring album opener.
鈥淯s and the Night鈥� is typical 3 Doors Down material, complete with infectious hooks, grinding guitar riffs and pounding drums all fronted by Arnold鈥檚 passionate vocals.
鈥淓verybody has the right to change/I didn鈥檛 say I would,鈥� sings Arnold on the rousing 鈥淏elieve It.鈥� The band has always delivered likable mainstream rock anthems that fall between the pop-rock sound of Matchbox Twenty and the harder rock edge of Fuel.
While the new album offers more of the same successful formula that sparked a respectable 16-year career, the band component is reinforced with the addition of two new band members. Guitarist Chet Roberts and bassist Justin Biltonen join guitarist Chris Henderson, drummer Greg Upchurch and Arnold, to provide additional muscle to the 11 new tracks.
Heavy doses of fiery guitar work power 鈥淚n the Dark,鈥� a sensual number about an alluring temptress who finds pleasure in being mysterious and unpredictable when the lights go down, and the survival anthem 鈥淪till Alive.鈥�
Other rockers like 鈥淟iving in Your Hell,鈥� 鈥淟ove Is a Lie鈥� and the title track were made loud to be played loud. Not all of the new material is an adrenaline-packed punch to the gut. The Mississippi band demonstrates a proficient knack for constructing a well-crafted ballad when necessary.
The piano opening and mild orchestration found on 鈥淚nside of Me鈥� and the acoustic touch of 鈥淧ieces of Me鈥� tenderly showcase a yearning to break free from the things that hold us back and limit true personal happiness. For me, the band鈥檚 finest moment comes on the album closer.
鈥淔ell From the Moon鈥� is another piano-led number that speaks of regret and redemption as Arnold sings, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how to get back/Or how to make up for all that I lack/But I鈥檓 gonna get there and I鈥檓 not gonna be scared/I got so much to prove.鈥�
Through an engaging combination of rousing rockers and heartfelt ballads, the messages contained on 鈥淯s and the Night鈥� speak to anyone who has found a renewed strength from adversity.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer.
He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard .com.