Review: Nickelback- Feed the Machine

Nickelback may get a lot of heat, but they can kick things up and really rock when they want to. In a recent interview, they said their latest record- Feed The Machine would be much heavier than Nickelback albums in the past and they couldn’t have been more correct. They open up the record with the title track, which is a blazing rock track from the very beginning. With this track alone, they show that they’re here to prove one thing- Nickelback can still rock hard with the best of them. “Coin for the Ferryman” is destined to be a fan favorite and it’s even heavier than the title track. It’s a catchy chorus with a heavy-hitting guitar track that will make even the biggest Nickelback critic become a fan. They slow it down at just the right time with “Song on Fire,” which has it’s heavy moments, but is a ballad that the band should be proud of. With Chad Kroeger’s raspy vocals, this song is just plain beautiful. This leads right into “Must Be Nice,” which has a groove rock feel to it. The lyrics are catchy as hell and will get stuck in your head. This a song you can rock to dance to at the same time. “You wonder why you never fail- your life’s a goddamn fairy tale” says it all. This song has pure attitude and it’s great. “After the Rain” starts out with a very soft guitar intro and leads into a near-tribal rock track that blindsides you with one of the most gorgeous ballad choruses you’ll hear. “For the River” is a balls-out rock track that leads into “Home,” which is one of the most emotionally-charged tracks we’ve heard from the band since “Should’ve Listened” and, though heavy, hauntingly shows the band’s vulnerable side. After “The Betrayal (Act III), we get “Silent Majority,” which is an arena anthem that would translate perfectly to the live stage. This one shows the band trying to make a statement to society about the silent majority needing to speak up and make their voices known, pleading for people not to just give up or give in but to make a difference. “Hurry up, the world needs this- speak up now, we can pick up the pieces,” couldn’t be more true about the current state we’re in. It’s very reminiscent of “If Everyone Cared” from All The Right Reasons. After “Everytime We’re Together,” the record comes to a close with instrumental “The Betrayal (Act I),” bringing and end to one of the strongest albums Nickelback have written yet. In the end, Feed the Machine is everything the band promised. It’s heavier, ballsier, more aggressive and, by far, the heaviest record the band has written since Dark Horse. Rating: 9/10 -Reggie Edwards