Album Review: Alkaline Trio - 'This Addiction'

It’s almost always a nervous time for fans anticipating a new album from a band when they mention it’s a “return to form”, fortunately for fans; they have nothing to worry about. Their seventh studio album This Addiction calls back to Goddamnit era Trio.

Title track This Addiction no doubt will become the Stupid Kid of This Addiction, replying on the formulaic set of verse, chorus, verse, and chorus. Don’t let the repetition hold your judgement, it gets better, I assure you.

Lyrically, This Addiction hones some of Skiba’s and Adriano’s skills as top penmen, delving into personal issues and using drug addiction as a metaphor for love and such. Like with the newer trio records, some lyrics are really cringe worthy ( Now my heart is a mess / Words sing in my chest / Not a clue how you got through the door / But I'm glad that you came / No regret and no shame / As I'm lying here dead on the floor. ) while others really hit the nail on the head.

One track that stood out for me and after reading the lyrics was This American Scream, which was based off an American soldier committing suicide after returning from Afghanistan. It’s not unknown of now with bands like Anti-Flag preaching the Anti-Bush message, and I’m not necessarily saying Trio are going to become one of those bands. But hearing the strain in Skiba’s voice as he sings And that’s where she found me / In the cemetery / A smoking gun in my hand now / I’m damned for the / and of the free. Is almost like watching a mother and father burying their baby, it’s heartbreaking.

Unfortunately This Addiction showcases some of Skiba’s weakest lyrical work, but where Skiba fails, Adriano picks it up, with examples like Fine and Dine, Dine My Darling you can’t really judge a whole album by a couple of tracks.

Mostly on all occasions when a band mentions they’re going back to earlier form you almost know it’s a complete crock of shit, but what’s really stopping you from going you back to earlier records and putting on your favourite songs? Nothing. This album is definitely a grower, if you don’t like it at first, give it a second, third or even a fourth go.

Alkaline Trio are going to be a legacy band, if not being labelled one already – This Addiction promises a nice little experience for older and newer fans, the former will eat this up. Fans will no doubt hold a love/hate relationship with this record, but fuck, it’s an Alkaline Trio record – you know it’s going to be great from the get go.

Alkaline Trio are going to be a legacy band, if not being labelled one already – This Addiction promises a nice little experience for older and newer fans, the former will eat this up. Fans will no doubt hold a love/hate relationship with this record, but fuck, it’s an Alkaline Trio record – you know it’s going to be great from the get go.

1. This Addiction
2. Dine, Dine My Darling
3. Lead Poisoning
4. Dead on the Floor
5. The American Scream
6. Off the Map
7. Draculina
8. Eating Me Alive
9. Piss and Vinegar
10. Dorothy
11. Fine