Explosions
Studio album by
Three Days Grace
ReleasedMay 6, 2022 (2022-05-06)
RecordedMarch – November 2021
Genre
Length37:51
LabelRCA
Producer
Three Days Grace chronology
Outsider
(2018) 		Explosions
(2022)
Singles from Explosions
  1. "So Called Life"
    Released: November 29, 2021
  2. "Lifetime"
    Released: April 11, 2022
  3. "I Am the Weapon"
    Released: September 27, 2022

Explosions is the seventh studio album by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released on May 6, 2022, through RCA Records.[2] The album was produced by Howard Benson and by members of the band.[3]

Background and recording

The band announced their seventh studio album, Explosions, after the release of "So Called Life".[4] They also announced tour dates for the spring that will take place in April and May 2022.[4] In February 2022, the band officially revealed the track list and the cover art for the album.[5]

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."[6] 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."[7] According to Walst, the album has the heaviest songs they've ever written and reminded him of their debut album.[8] 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."[9]

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.[10] "Neurotic" was released on February 17, 2022, as a promotional single.[5] The second official single "Lifetime" was released on April 11, 2022.[11] The song was dedicated to the people of Mayfield, Kentucky after an EF4 tornado hit the city in December 2021.[11] The song peaked at number 1 both on active and mainstream rock charts making it the bands 17th number 1 on the charts.[12] The third single, "I Am the Weapon" was released on September 27, 2022.[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Distorted Sound7/10[15]
Metal Hammer4/7[16]
Rock N' Load9/10[1]
Wall of Sound7.5/10[17]

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".[1] 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."[14] To date, the album has sold 44,000 equivalent album units in the US.[12]

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for Explosions
Year Organization Award Result Ref(s)
2023 Juno Awards Rock Album of the Year Nominated [18]

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.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."So Called Life" 3:26
2."I Am the Weapon"
2:55
3."Neurotic" (featuring Lukas Rossi)
3:18
4."Lifetime" 2:57
5."A Scar Is Born" 3:33
6."Souvenirs" 3:10
7."No Tomorrow" 2:52
8."Redemption"
  • Johnny Andrews
  • M Walst
  • B Walst
  • Stock
  • Sanderson
3:10
9."Champion"
  • James Walst
  • M Walst
  • B Walst
  • Stock
  • Sanderson
3:01
10."Chain of Abuse" 3:05
11."Someone to Talk To" (featuring Apocalyptica) 2:53
12."Explosions" 3:27
Total length:37:51
Japanese edition bonus track[19]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Somebody That I Used to Know"Wally de Backer3:29
Total length:41:20

Personnel

Credits retrieved from album's liner notes.[20]

Charts

Chart performance for Explosions
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[21] 37
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[22] 30
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[23] 28
Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] 92
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 53
UK Album Sales (OCC)[26] 42
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[27] 43
UK Physical Albums (OCC)[28] 47
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[29] 8
US Billboard 200[30] 102
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[31] 9
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[32] 13
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[33] 4

References

  1. ^ a b c Conor (May 5, 2022). "Three Days Grace // Explosions // Album Review". Rock N' Load. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  2. ^ "Three Days Grace Announces New Music Video and Explosions Tour". Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "Three Days Grace – Explosions (Album Review)". 30 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b Childers, Chad (November 29, 2021). "Three Days Grace Seek Escape With Heavy New Song 'So Called Life', Announce New Album". Loudwire. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Childers, Chad (February 17, 2022). "Three Days Grace Team With Lukas Rossi on Anthemic New Song 'Neurotic'". Loudwire. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Brad Walst, Three Days Grace – "Matt's Come a Long Way, so I'm Excited for the Future"". September 30, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  7. ^ Aarons, Ricky (May 6, 2022). "Brad Walst – Three Days Grace 'Still Alive with Explosions'". Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  8. ^ Greg Prato (May 10, 2022). "Three Days Grace's Brad Walst − "Distinguished Gentleman Among Young"". Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  9. ^ Schaffner, Lauryn (December 3, 2021). "How Today's Social Climate Inspired Three Days Grace's New Album Explosions". Loudwire. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  10. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (February 1, 2022). "Three Days Grace Ties Shinedown for Most Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1s". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Childers, Chad (April 11, 2022). "Three Days Grace Dedicate 'Lifetime' Video + U.S. Tour to Helping Mayfield Tornado Victims". Loudwire. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Rutherford, Kevin (July 6, 2022). "Three Days Grace Ties Shinedown Again for Most Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1s". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  13. ^ "Future Releases - Rock". All Access. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Monger, Timothy. "Explosions – Three Days Grace Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  15. ^ McHugh, Dan (May 5, 2022). "Album Review: Explosions – Three Days Grace". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved May 8, 2022. ((cite magazine)): Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  16. ^ Weckmann, Matthias (May 6, 2022). "Kritik zu Three Days Grace Explosions". Metal Hammer (in German). Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  17. ^ Aarons, Ricky (April 30, 2022). "Three Days Grace – Explosions (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  18. ^ Paul Grein (January 31, 2023). "The Weeknd Tops 2023 Juno Awards Nominations: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  19. ^ "エクスプロージョンズ" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  20. ^ Explosions (booklet). RCA. 2022.
  21. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Three Days Grace – Explosions" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  22. ^ "Three Days Grace Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  23. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Three Days Grace – Explosions" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  25. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Three Days Grace – Explosions". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  26. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  27. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  28. ^ "Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  29. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  30. ^ "Three Days Grace Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  31. ^ "Three Days Grace Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  32. ^ "Three Days Grace Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  33. ^ "Three Days Grace Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
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