Alkaline Trio is everything that is right with this genre of music, and This Addiction is no exception. This record is more of return to the classic Alkaline Trio sound from earlier days. The sound is vibrant and saturated, and the lyrics are a bit on the dark side. Matt Skiba confirmed the nature of the record in an interview with Rock Sound:
"[This Addiction] is the first song on the record and the title of our new album. The song takes heroin addiction as a metaphor for love. The whole record is really personal, all three of us have been through quite a bit since our last album [2008's Agony & Irony] and it is all expressed through this, all the songs are about the relationships we've been in and so the record has a constant theme."
One of the more thought provoking pieces, "The American Scream", is based on "an article about a US soldier that came back from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and blew his head off on his mother's grave", stepping Alkaline Trio into chilling political territory, which weaves well into the themes of addiction and horror throughout the album. "Dorothy" is carefully constructed and full of clever effects and lines like, "I found you out there on your door step undressed to the nines" making it a satisfying piece all around. "Dine, Dine My Darling" is possibly my favorite track, full of raw energy and passion. The message is sweet and positive.
This is a solid, straightforward album that I find incredibly enjoyable. I think the simple construction of the songs will allow for amazing live performance. Make sure to check out all the extras available with This Addiction including t-shirts, CD/DVD combos, and bonus tracks here.
Available from Epitaph on February 23rd.
