Discovered by post-grunge icon and fellow Canadian
Chad Kroeger,
My Darkest Days deliver a massive dose of slick, radio-ready hard rock on their self-titled debut. Straight out of the gate, the band shows its got rock star swagger with strip club-ready tracks like “Move Your Body” and “Porn Star Dancing,” with the latter featuring guest spots from
Kroeger himself and rapper
Ludacris. While these songs revel in their sleaze, the dirty fun doesn’t last long. The rest of the album shows a more plaintive side of the band, stripping away all of the bravado in exchange for more lovelorn musings. The shift is a noticeable one, and though the rest of the songs are still solid, it feels like someone called the cops on the party. Despite this shift,
My Darkest Days still manage to keep the sound on the rock side of things, making for a debut that is sure to find fans among
Nickelback lovers. ~ Gregory Heaney