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.[1] 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.[2] It is the second album to feature Matt Walst as lead vocalist.[3]

Outsider
Studio album by
Three Days Grace
ReleasedMarch 9, 2018 (2018-03-09)
RecordedJuly 2017-January 2018
Genre
Length39:20
LabelRCA
Producer
Three Days Grace chronology
Human
(2015)		 Outsider
(2018)		 Explosions
(2022)
Singles from Outsider
  1. "The Mountain"
    Released: January 25, 2018
  2. "Infra-Red"
    Released: June 25, 2018
  3. "Right Left Wrong"
    Released: November 12, 2018

The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 24 and sold 17,000 copies in the US in its first week.[4] The album also peaked at number nine on the Canadian Albums Chart.[5]

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.[2] 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.[6] 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."[7]

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."[2] 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.[2] Brad Walst also stated that the album is about "the journey to find your place."[6] The background electronic aspects of the album were influenced by Bring Me the Horizon's 2015 album That's the Spirit.[3]

The band embarked on a headlining tour called, The Outsider tour in 2018.[8] The group also supported Avenged Sevenfold and Prophets of Rage on the End of the World tour that same year.[9]

Singles

The band released the first single with two promotional tracks to back the album's release. "The Mountain" was released as the lead single on January 25, 2018 and was accompanied by a music video.[10] The song peaked at number one on the US Mainstream Rock chart.[11] "I Am an Outsider" was released on February 16, 2018 as a promotional single from the album.[2] "Right Left Wrong" was released as the third and final song to promote the album on March 2, 2018.[12] On June 12, "Infra-Red" was released as the band's second single from the album.[13] The song topped the US Mainstream Rock chart.[14] On November 13, 2018, the band released the album's opening track, "Right Left Wrong", as the third single for radio airplay.[15] The song reached number one on the US Mainstream Rock chart.[16]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Distorted Sound[17]
Melodic[18]
Salute[19]
Ultimate Guitar5/10[20]

Outsider was met with mixed reviews. Jack Press of Distorted Sound praised the opening track "Right Left Wrong" for Walst's, "defining performance... similar to Gontier's mid-noughties range as much as they sound undeniably fresh." He also complimented the songs "I Am an Outsider" and "Infra-Red" for its "arena-driven chorus" that blur the lines between alternative rock and pop rock. However, he criticized the track "Love Me or Leave Me" for its repetitiveness. He concluded, "It's what sets this record apart from other alt-rock outfits right now, whereas much of their peers are focusing on feel-good party anthems, Three Days Grace give us a masterclass in coming to terms with the well of emotions that lay inside of us."[17]

Kaj Roth of Melodic gave a mixed review of the album stating, "Outsider sounds pretty much like a typical Three Days Grace album but it's just not as great as Human or their early stuff, it's well produced and they show no signs of selling out but most of these songs won't make it onto a best of with this band."[18] Joshua Leep of Salute also gave a mixed review of the album remarking, "teens and young adults will definitely be able to grasp pretty quickly. Older folks might not be able to relate to the lyrical content quite as much, but there are of course always exceptions. Regardless, it is a solid effort with some honest, unhindered, and unhinged music."[19]

Awards and nominations

The band won the Rock Songwriters of the Year award for "The Mountain" on the 30th anniversary of the SOCAN Awards[21] and Rock Artist of the Year on 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards.[22] Outsider was nominated for Album of the Year and Rock Album of the Year at the 2019 Juno Awards.[23]

Awards and nominations for Outsider
Year Organization Award Result Ref(s)
2019 Juno Awards Album of the Year Nominated [23]
Rock Album of the Year Nominated

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.[24]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Right Left Wrong" 3:56
2."The Mountain"Johnny Andrews3:18
3."I Am an Outsider"Andrews, Meghan Patrick2:42
4."Infra-Red"Dan Kanter, Isiah Steinberg3:50
5."Nothing to Lose but You"Andrews2:52
6."Me Against You"Ted Bruner3:29
7."Love Me or Leave Me" 3:04
8."Strange Days"Andrews3:10
9."Villain I'm Not"Andrews2:55
10."Chasing the First Time"Andrews2:55
11."The New Real"Casey Marshall3:00
12."The Abyss"Bruner4:09
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

Production

Charts
Chart performance for Outsider
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] 49
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[26] 28
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[27] 182
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[5] 9
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[28] 157
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[29] 36
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)[30] 10
Scottish Albums (OCC)[31] 96
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 38
UK Album Sales (OCC)[33] 76
UK Digital Albums (OCC)[34] 36
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[35] 10
US Billboard 200[36] 24
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[37] 7
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[38] 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[39] 6
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[40] 3

References
  1. "Three Days Grace To Release 'Outsider Album in March 9; 'The Mountain' Video Now Available". Blabbermouth.net. January 25, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  2. Gary Graff (February 16, 2018). "Three Days Grace Debuts 'I Am An Outsider' From Upcoming Album: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  3. Chad Childers (March 7, 2018). "Three Days Grace's Matt Walst 'More Comfortable' With 'Outsider'". Loudwire. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  4. Caulfield, Keith (March 22, 2018). "Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Three Days Grace Net Fifth Top 40 Album With 'Outsider'". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  5. "Three Days Grace Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  6. Chad Childers (January 25, 2018). "Three Days Grace Announce 'Outsider' Album, 'The Mountain' Video". Loudwire. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  7. Markos Papadatos (February 21, 2018). "Three Days Grace shares details on new rock album 'Outsider' (Includes interview)". Digital Journal. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  8. "The Outsider Tour in Canada Announced". threedaysgrace.com. July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  9. Chad Childers (March 5, 2018). "Avenged Sevenfold Announce 'End of the World' Tour With Prophets of Rage and Three Days Grace". Loudwire. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  10. Nicole Mastrogiannis (January 25, 2018). "Three Days Grace Debuts New Single 'The Mountain' from New Album 'Outsider' - iHeartRadio". iHeartRadio. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  11. "Three Days Grace Makes Billboard Rock Songs Chart History". Blabbermouth.net. March 29, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  12. "Three Days Grace release incredible new track 'Right Left Wrong'". Alternative Press. March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  13. "Rock Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  14. Chad Childers (September 10, 2018). "Three Days Grace Set Billboard Record With 14th No. 1 Mainstream Rock Single". Loudwire. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  15. "Rock Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  16. "Three Days Grace Extend Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1 Record". Blabbermouth.net. April 18, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  17. Jack Press (March 8, 2018). "ALBUM REVIEW: Outsider - Three Days Grace - Distorted Sound Magazine". Distorted Sound. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  18. Kaj Roth (March 22, 2018). "Three Days Grace - Outsider". Melodic. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  19. Joshua Leep (March 9, 2018). "Review: Three Days Grace talk inner strength in Outsider". Salute. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  20. "Outsider Review". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  21. "30th Anniversary SOCAN Awards Chad Kroeger And Three Days Grace | Yaletown Financial Management Inc". yaletownfm.com. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  22. "Three Days Grace wins Rock Artist of the Year at iHeartRadio Music Awards". 107.9 KBPI. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  23. "Three Days Grace Nominated For Three Juno Awards – Three Days Grace". Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  24. "BMI song credits". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  25. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  26. "Austriancharts.at – Three Days Grace – Outsider" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  27. "Ultratop.be – Three Days Grace – Outsider" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  28. "Dutchcharts.nl – Three Days Grace – Outsider" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  29. "Offiziellecharts.de – Three Days Grace – Outsider" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  30. "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 19, 2018. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  31. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  32. "Swisscharts.com – Three Days Grace – Outsider". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  33. "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. March 16, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  34. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. March 16, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  35. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  36. "Three Days Grace Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  37. "Three Days Grace Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  38. "Three Days Grace Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  39. "Three Days Grace Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  40. "Three Days Grace Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
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