Outsider (Three Days Grace album)

Outsider is the sixth studio album by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released on March 9, 2018 through RCA Records. The album was produced by two of the band's prior producers, Gavin Brown and Howard Benson but also by members of the band themselves.[3] It is the second album to feature Matt Walst as lead vocalist.[4]

Outsider
Studio album by Three Days Grace
Released	March 9, 2018[1]
Recorded	2017
Length	39:20
Label	RCA
Producer	Gavin Brown Howard Benson Three Days Grace
Three Days Grace chronology
Human (2015) Outsider (2018)
Singles from Outsider
"The Mountain" Released: January 25, 2018 "Infra-Red" Released: June 25, 2018[2] "Right Left Wrong" Released: November 12, 2018

The album was preceded by the release of its first single, "The Mountain".

Background and recording

Once the tour for their 2015 album Human concluded, the band decided to take time off to work on the next album "in as much isolation as possible," according to drummer Neil Sanderson.[3] The band desired, Sanderson explained, to "get a break and find the space to create." To accomplish this, the group spent a year writing at rural properties owned by Sanderson and bassist Brad Walst.[5] The first song they wrote was the album's lead single, "The Mountain". According to Brad Walst, the group wrote and recorded around 20 songs, selecting the album tracks by "vibe" in order for the album to have "a good sequence to it."[6]

Talking about the themes found on the album, Sanderson said "I think there's a common thread that talks about how to navigate your way through modern life and being bombarded by information and feelings and beliefs. We don't have all the answers here, but we definitely do bring up the topic a lot." He also revealed that lead vocalist Matt Walst was much more involved in the songwriting, messages, and concepts than on Human, which was Matt's first since joining the band in 2013.[3] Brad Walst also stated that the album is about "the journey to find your place."[5] The background electronic aspects of the album were influenced by Bring Me the Horizon's 2015 album That's the Spirit.[7]

Singles

The band released the first single with two promotional tracks to back the album's release. "The Mountain" was released as the first single on January 25, 2018 and was accompanied by a music video. This single was followed by the album's title track, "I Am an Outsider", on February 16, 2018. "Right Left Wrong" was released as the third and final song to promote the album on March 2, 2018.[8][9][10][11] On June 12, "Infra-Red" was released as the band's second single from the album.[12] On November 13, 2018, the band released the album's opening track, "Right Left Wrong", as the third single for radio airplay.[13]

Critical reception

Outsider was met with positive reviews and it is considered a sizable improvement from their previous work with Matt Walst, Human. Kate Drexel of Music Existence gave a very positive review, ending it by saying that it is what fans truly hope to hear, and giving it 5/5.[14] Distorted Sound magazine gave 8/10 by saying that for the first time in twelve years, they deserve to be a band worth listening to, and that "Canada's resident underdogs returned".[15] Salute magazine in a less positive review gave the album a 3/5 but it also said that it is a solid effort with some honest, unhindered, and unhinged music.[16]

Awards

The band won the Rock Songwriters of the Year award for "The Mountain" on the 30th anniversary of the SOCAN Awards[17] and Rock Artist of the Year on 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards.[18]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Three Days Grace (Neil Sanderson, Barry Stock, Brad Walst and Matt Walst) and producer Gavin Brown, with additional writers as listed below[19].

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Right Left Wrong"		3:56
2.	"The Mountain"	Johnny Andrews	3:18
3.	"I Am an Outsider"	Andrews, Meghan Patrick	2:42
4.	"Infra-Red"	Dan Kanter, Isiah Steinberg	3:50
5.	"Nothing to Lose but You"	Andrews	2:52
6.	"Me Against You"	Ted Bruner	3:29
7.	"Love Me or Leave Me"		3:04
8.	"Strange Days"	Andrews	3:10
9.	"Villain I'm Not"	Andrews	2:55
10.	"Chasing the First Time"	Andrews	2:55
11.	"The New Real"	Casey Marshall	3:00
12.	"The Abyss"	Bruner	4:09
Total length:			39:20

Personnel

Three Days Grace

• Matt Walst – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Barry Stock – lead guitar
• Brad Walst – bass guitar
• Neil Sanderson – drums, backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Rhys Fulber – additional programming

Production

• Gavin Brown – producer
• Howard Benson – producer
• Three Days Grace – producer
• Mike Plotnikoff – engineer
• Chris Lord-Alge – mixing
• Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York City

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[20]	49
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[21]	28
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[22]	182
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[23]	9
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[24]	157
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[25]	36
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)[26]	10
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27]	96
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[28]	38
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[29]	10
US Billboard 200[30]	24
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[31]	7
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[32]	3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[33]	6
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[34]	3

References

1. "THREE DAYS GRACE To Release 'Outsider Album in March 9; 'The Mountain' Video Now Available". January 25, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
2. "Rock Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
3. "Three Days Grace Debuts 'I Am An Outsider' From Upcoming Album: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
4. "Three Days Grace's Matt Walst 'More Comfortable' With 'Outsider'". Loudwire. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
5. "Three Days Grace Announce 'Outsider' Album, 'The Mountain' Video". Loudwire. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
6. "Three Days Grace shares details on new rock album 'Outsider' (Includes interview)". February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
7. "Three Days Grace's Matt Walst 'More Comfortable' With 'Outsider'". Loudwire. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
8. "Three Days Grace Debuts New Single 'The Mountain' from New Album 'Outsider' - iHeartRadio".
9. "Three Days Grace to release new album Outsider". February 9, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
10. "Three Days Grace Debuts 'I Am An Outsider' From Upcoming Album: Exclusive". Retrieved March 8, 2018.
11. "Three Days Grace release incredible new track 'Right Left Wrong' - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
12. "Rock Future Releases - Rock Music Radio Songs' Release Dates". June 11, 2018. Archived from the original on June 11, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
13. "Rock Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
14. "Album Review: Three Days Grace – Outsider – Music Existence". musicexistence.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
15. "ALBUM REVIEW: Outsider - Three Days Grace - Distorted Sound Magazine". March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
16. "Review: Three Days Grace talk inner strength in 'Outsider'". salutemag.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
17. "30th Anniversary SOCAN Awards Chad Kroeger And Three Days Grace | Yaletown Financial Management Inc". yaletownfm.com. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
18. "Three Days Grace wins Rock Artist of the Year at iHeartRadio Music Awards". 107.9 KBPI. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
19. "BMI song credits". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
20. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
21. "Austriancharts.at – Three Days Grace – Outsider" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
22. "Ultratop.be – Three Days Grace – Outsider" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
23. "Three Days Grace Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
24. "Dutchcharts.nl – Three Days Grace – Outsider" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
25. "Offiziellecharts.de – Three Days Grace – Outsider" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
26. "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
27. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
28. "Swisscharts.com – Three Days Grace – Outsider". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
29. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
30. "Three Days Grace Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
31. "Three Days Grace Chart History". Retrieved March 23, 2018.
32. "Three Days Grace Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
33. "Three Days Grace Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
34. "Three Days Grace Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2018.