Nickleback haven’t made it this far by throwing their audience difficult curveballs, and All The Right Reasons--the Canadian quartet’s fourth full-length--continues their run of uncomplicated, testosterone-soaked hard-rock albums without a wobble. Frontman Chad Kroeger still approaches the act of songcraft like he’s chopping wood, grunting and sweating under the weight of gritted-teeth rock-outs like "Fight For All The Wrong Reasons" and "Someone That You’re With". Critics have it in for Nickleback for many of the same reasons they have it in for Stereophonics--these songs promise emotional weight and hard-won truths, but have a tendency to mistake joylessness for passion. However, you can spot the hits a mile off. "Side Of A Bullet" is dedicated to deceased ex-Pantera man Dimebag Darrell, and even features an overdubbed axe solo from said guitarist, while "Photograph" sees Kroeger getting misty-eyed--almost whimsical--over an old school photo. Ultimately, though, it’s more of the same. Which should suit the Nickleback faithful just fine. --Louis Pattison
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