What’s a poor rock band to do when their last album sold eight million copies at a time when nobody buys CDs anymore? They can hire the guy who produced AC/DC, Def Leppard and Shania Twain albums that sold even more! On “Dark Horse”, “Mutt” Lange lightens Nickelback’s dreary post-grunge plod, applying guitar shimmer to prom ballads and detonating big beats under frat-party shouts and rap-lite vocals. Lyrics revel in dorkitude, hair-metal style. The two liveliest songs celebrate getting wasted with the bros; the most melodramatic laments a friend’s overdose. Their new single is about both desiring a starlet who “didn’t make it this far by just Shakin’ Hands” and then despising her for it. Which makes perfect sense in Chad Kroeger’s universe.

by Mark Emge

Canada’s melodic post-grunge party-starters Nickelback have been responsible for some of the heaviest pop hits of this decade (”Rockstar”, “How You Remind Me”) and, more notably, single-handedly preserving the tradition of the arena-rock butane ballad. They are produced by Mutt Lange (AC/DC, Shania Twain) on “Dark Horse”, he nudges from the band a tougher sound more suited to their inner sexist pig. But in what qualifies as a sort of progress, the disc’s brooding slow burners are its least obnoxious. “Just To Get High” is aimed at a friend who becomes a drug addict. And the album’s best number, “Never Gonna Be Alone”, asks for a second chance. Could it be that Nickelback have seen the error of their ways? Don’t answer that.

by Mark Emge

Canada’ ChartAttack.com claims Nickelback’s “Chad Kroeger is a genius because he turned out an extremely racy album ["Dark Horse"] that’s loaded with songs about gettin’ drunk and doin’ it, with enough love and moral authority to grease its passage into the mainstream. Rejoice, North America. This is your world.” Kroeger and co. gives the party anthems a rest for the almost pop-country paean to carpe diem “If Today Was Your Last Day” (mega-producer Mutt Lange’s resume includes Shania Twain as well as Def Lep).

by Mark Emge

Robert “Mutt” Lange earned his bonafides by disassembling, polishing, and reconfiguring solid hard-rock acts (AC/DC, Def Leppard) into relentless hit machines (”Back In Black”, “Pyromania”). He’s not bound by genre–Bryan Adams and ex-wife Shania Twain are among return clients–but it’s no surprise he would tackle Canadian modern-rockers Nickelback’s latest, “Dark Horse”. A strict vegetarian and a follower of Sant Mat, Lange nonetheless possesses a singular talent for accentuating the hooks in the riffs and helping sleazy lyricists get downright stoopid (”Shoot To Thrill”, “Pour Some Sugar On Me”). “Something In Your Mouth” is less double entendre than tawdry innuendo, but it’s also sleek like a chart missile.

by Mark Emge

Nickelback is a popular post-grunge rock band from Alberta, Canada that formed in 1996. The original band mates were Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and then drummer Brandon Kroeger. In 2002 Chad Kroeger worked with Josey Scott on the theme song to the box office blockbuster “Spider-Man”. Their most recent sixth studio album, “Dark Horse”, was produced by the band and Mutt Lange, known for producing for AC/DC and Def Leppard. The song is about searching for the right person to spend the rest of your life with, and deals with the fear of wondering if you may ever find that person. Theband name “Nickelback” comes from the nickel in change that Mike would give his customers when he worked as a barista at Starbucks.

by Victor Caballero

Nickelback lead singer and guitarist Chad Kroeger has prefaced “Far Away” on tour as the “only real love song” that Nickelback has, identifying others as “being about love”, but not solely about “being in love”. Got that? Although such sentiments are not alien to the Canadian grunge-lite rockers, who are typically more radio-friendly than their sub-PearlGarden peers. “Far Away” is a re-release off the group’s last album, “All The Right Reasons” from way back in 2005, to tide fans over until a new collection arrives in early-2009.

by Marijke van Niekerk