Album Review: Alkaline Trio - This Addiction
After a couple of disappointing releases, Alkaline Trio are back to their best. 'This Addicition' is a vast return to form and a reminder of why I personally fell in love with this band in the first place. The title track sees the band returning to their origins; bass-driven fast-paced songs that take no shit with subtle pop-punk hooks. As always Matt Skiba and Dan Andriano share vocal duties, although Skiba more so on this effort.Nevertheless Andriano is on form, especially on 'Dine, Dine My Darling' (despite the awful play on words), which keeps up the albums momentum. Whilst tracks like 'Dead on the Floor', 'Draculina' and 'The American Scream' is vintage Trio and will please old fans (including me). Those wanting a bit more variation will be disappointed.
However on the whole it isn't a challenging record, as in some ways it sees a band going back to formula that won many over, but still sees them willing to add some elements that may surprise. Ska-like horns on 'Lead Poisoning' and a use of keyboards in 'Eating Me Alive' showcase this, but at times you wish they hadn't been used at all, as these tracks to an extent fall by the wayside.
Although the bands structure and style is favourable, torwards the later stages you begin to feel you heard it all before, and done better. Closing track, the Andriano-led 'Fine' manges to add variation, with its slower tempo and calmer vocal delivery.
'This Addicition' maybe a return to form, but its not there best work nor is it a cheapened shadow of the bands former-selves, as the albums clean production brings a refreshing tone to the record. Lyrically the band continue to move away from the dark imagery and gothic-like themes of their earlier work, and towards more mature and personal themes, that brings a sense of realism to the bands work.
4/5
'This Addicition' by Alkaline Trio is released next week on Hassle Records (UK)/Epitaph Records (US) and Heart and Skull.
Alkaline Trio on MySpace, Twitter and Facebook.
Sean Reid
