Three Days Grace
Three Days Grace is a Canadian rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario, in 1992 originally as Groundswell. Groundswell played in various local Norwood backyard parties and area establishments before disbanding in 1995 and regrouping in 1997 under its current name.
For the band's self-titled album, see Three Days Grace (album).
Three Days Grace
Groundswell (1992−1995)
Norwood, Ontario, Canada
- 1992−1995
- 1997−present
- Adam Gontier
- Phil Crowe
- Joe Grant
Based in Toronto, the band's original line-up consisted of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson, and bassist Brad Walst. In 2003, Barry Stock was recruited as the band's lead guitarist, making them a quartet. In 2013, Gontier left the band and was replaced by Walst's younger brother Matt Walst, who was previously the lead singer of My Darkest Days.
Currently signed to RCA Records, they have released seven studio albums: Three Days Grace in 2003, One-X in 2006, Life Starts Now in 2009, Transit of Venus in 2012, Human in 2015, Outsider in 2018 and Explosions in 2022. The first three albums have been RIAA certified 2× platinum, 3× platinum, and platinum, respectively, in the United States. In Canada, they have been certified by Music Canada as platinum, triple platinum, and double platinum, respectively. In the United Kingdom, their second album One-X was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry.[1] The band has 17 No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and 3 No. 1 hits on Alternative Songs.
History[edit]
Early years (1992–2002)[edit]
The band started out as a quintet named "Groundswell" in Norwood, Ontario, in 1992.[2] Groundswell released one full-length album, Wave of Popular Feeling in 1995,[3] containing singles "Eddie", "Poison Ivy" and "Stare". The band's line-up consisted of lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer Neil Sanderson, bassist Brad Walst, lead guitarist Phil Crowe, and rhythm guitarist Joe Grant.[4] Most of the members were attending high school when the band formed.[2][5] By the end of 1997, the band had broken up.
In 1997, Gontier, Sanderson, and Walst regrouped as "Three Days Grace".[2] According to Gontier, the name refers to a sense of urgency, with the question being whether someone could change something in their life if they had only three days to make a change.[5] Once in Toronto, the band became acquainted with local producer Gavin Brown. They gave him several years' worth of material which they had created, and he "...picked out what he called 'the golden nuggets'", according to Gontier.[6] Brown and the band polished the songs and created a demo album, which they gave to EMI Music Publishing Canada. The record label wanted to hear more material, and with Brown producing, the band created the song, "I Hate Everything About You", which attracted the interest of several record labels.[6] Three Days Grace were soon signed to Jive Records after being sought out by the company's then-president Barry Weiss.[2] Additionally, the group signed with Zomba in 2002.[7]
Musical styles and influences[edit]
Their music has been described as post-grunge,[163][164][165] hard rock,[166][167][168] alternative rock,[163][169] alternative metal,[170][171] and nu metal.[172][173] The band's image has been mistaken as a Christian rock band due to the word "grace" being in their name, however, Gontier noted that they were "far from being a Christian rock band."[174] The group stated that their early influences were from the bands, The Tragically Hip and Our Lady Peace as well as from the Seattle rock scene, especially the group Sunny Day Real Estate.[175]
Their self-titled album mostly features the sounds of alternative metal[30] and nu metal,[29] with heavy influences from Kyuss and Sunny Day Real Estate.[2] The album drew comparison with the likes of Linkin Park, Chevelle, Depswa and Shinedown for their alternative metal and hard rock sound.[30][176] On their second album, One-X, the band continued with their alternative metal sound and features songs more personal to Gontier.[170][38] Music critics praised the album's lyrics for its "simple and direct approach" that adds a certain charm, despite its predictability.[170][45] However, on their third album, Life Starts Now, the group departs from the angry tone of the band's previous releases into a lyrical style with more optimism while maintaining their hard rock sound.[65] Critics compared the album's sound to bands such as Breaking Benjamin, Collective Soul, and Godsmack.[65] Their fourth album, Transit of Venus, included a few electronic influences.[177] These influences are evident on tracks such as "Chalk Outline" and "The High Road", adding a layer of thickness to the guitar-heavy work.[178] On their fifth album, Human, the group shifted away from using electronic elements and went back to their post-grunge and alternative metal sound.[179][180] However, their sixth album, Outsider, included electronic aspects influenced by Bring Me the Horizon's 2015 album, That's the Spirit.[181] On their seventh album, Explosions, they continued with their gritty and hard rock sound.[182] Critics compared the sound to their early records such as One-X for its raw angst while also stating the group heads for a mature and exploratory sound on the album.[183]
Legacy[edit]
The band has a record 17 number-one songs on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.[152] Billboard ranked the group at number three on their "Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Artists" list.[184] Loudwire named "Animal I Have Become" the 45th "Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs" in 2012[185] and also listed "Never Too Late" as one of the "66 Best Hard Rock Songs of the 21st Century" in 2020.[186] "I Hate Everything About You" was ranked at number 9 on the Billboard Decade-End Alternative Songs chart in 2009.[187] Billboard named "Break", "Chalk Outline", "Pain", "Animal I Have Become" and "I Am Machine" as the "Greatest Mainstream Rock Songs" on their "Greatest of All Time" list with "Break" and "Chalk Outline" in the top 10.[188] Adam Gontier, the band's founding lead vocalist, has been considered to have a, "passionate vocal style, naturally husky sound, and lyricism chock full of [the] angst and torment" making him a unique singer that many teenagers and others living through hardships found relatable.[189]
Studio albums