The past few records from punk Chicago natives Alkaline Trio have been staggeringly disappointing when compared to their earlier gems, specifically From Here to Infirmary. That album was the point at which the band put together a completely comprehensive sound, mixing their dark, haunting lyrical content with the bass-driven focus that made their songs so enthralling. Their seventh studio album, This Addiction, marks a fine return to form for the band.
It is clear that This Addiction does not have nearly the bass presence found on From Here to Infirmary, but that serves to distinguish this record rather than detract from the enjoyment of listening to it. The guitars retain a great sound, the drums are tracked well and the vocals shine as an integral part of the band's identity. True to form, Matt Skiba and Dan Andriano share vocal duties on the record, which often leads to divisive styles. The high-pitched Skiba definitely dominates this record, but Andriano's deep voice punches hard during his leads, especially the album's closing track, ""Fine."" A little slower than most of the band's compositions, it's easily one of the best songs on the album, overshadowing the cliché track ""Dine, Dine My Darling"" by a large margin.
The album does have a few oddities that could be cut, but these eccentricities make for one of the band's more interesting releases. ""Lead Poisoning,"" a great song with Skiba on vocals, contains several horn sections that give off more of a Reel Big Fish feel than the dark style recognizable to Alkaline Trio. They aren't a turn-off, but provide a more upbeat atmosphere that is initially startling. Some organ synth creeps into ""Draculina"" and ""Eating Me Alive"" and remains present throughout the two, making them the weaker songs on the album.
To some ears, the album may be extremely front-loaded. Lead track ""This Addiction"" exudes classic Trio composition, and easily stands as the best choice to open the release, album title completely aside. Venturing a little deeper into the song list, ""The American Scream"" presents a little conundrum. At first, the song may seem politicized in a Green Day-esque way, but is probably the catchiest and most gut-wrenching song the band on This Addiction. Detailing the story of an American soldier who committed suicide after returning from a tour in Afghanistan, it's especially poignant and a detour from the band's normal standby of love and relationship material.
Comparing this record to previous releases may be a bit unfair. Sure, the band's sound progression over the past few years seemed to meet with general disapproval, but is This Addiction merely on the market to tickle the ears of disenfranchised fans? It's evident that the band took the criticism and molded it into a product that can stand up to From Here to Infirmary, but they still manage to make the album not feel like a simple rehashing of old material.
