Possessing one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in alternative rock, Chad Kroeger led Nickelback to the top of the post-grunge heap with a combination of Metallica-esque riffing and some of the hugest hooks this side of Nirvana. Riding on the massive radio success of the single "Someday," THE LONG ROAD delivers a collection of unusually well crafted lyrics swathed in an energetic blend of massive-sounding de-tuned guitars and rapid-fire vocal rhythms. Throughout, Kroeger spins appropriately angst-ridden tales of hard living and harder love, which are occasionally tempered by (slightly) lighter moments such as the Bob Seger-like road anthem "See You at the Show," and "Feelin' Way Too Damn Good," a classic I've-been-down-so-long-I-can't-get-up rocker. Like contemporary hit-makers Staind and Creed, Nickelback knows how to turn pain into gold, rocking with a winning combination of gut-wrenching power and melancholy tenderness.
What the critics say...
Entertainment Weekly (9/26/03, p.93) - "...A ripping good spin [that] offers a heaping helping of meat-and-potatoes rawk..." - Rating: B+
Q (12/03, p.130) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...These 11 songs are resolutely compact and well-written..."
