Music

Alienation by Three Days Grace – 2025 Rock Album Winner

Sarah Parker December 11, 2025

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Congratulations are in order for Three Days Grace as the veteran rockers are Loudwire‘s pick for the Best Rock Album of 2025 for Alienation.

It was a banner year for the Canadian group, who set the stage in late 2024 with the announcement that original vocalist Adam Gontier was returning to the band and would now be co-vocalist alongside the singer who replaced him, Matt Walst.

How exactly would that work out? Could the band maintain their momentum with multiple voices and additional creative input? Would fans embrace the lineup or would it cause division?

Simply put, this union with both Gontier and Walst exceeded expectations and yielded one of the strongest albums of the band’s career, making them one of 2025’s biggest talking points and absolute highlights.

Key Highlights

Album Recognition: Alienation was named Best Rock Album of 2025 by Loudwire.
Vocal Dynamics: The collaboration between Adam Gontier and Matt Walst brought a fresh sound to the band.
Fan Reception: Fans have reacted positively to the dual-vocalist setup.
Creative Growth: The album showcases a reinvention of Three Days Grace’s musical style.

Why Did We Pick This Album?

There’s no doubt that Three Days Grace know how to write rock radio hits.

They’ve continued to battle back and forth with Shinedown for years for the most chart-topping singles on the Mainstream Rock chart (and they’ve added three more so far off this album with “Mayday,” “Apologies,” and “Kill Me Fast”). But in this case, Alienation is arguably the deepest album of their career with any number of songs that could hit the radio airwaves and will likely continue to do so into 2026.

This album represents both a continuation and a reinvention of Three Days Grace’s sound.

For fans who loved the early era, the voice and creative inspiration that Adam Gontier brought to the group is now back. So is his ability to delve into some of the more difficult subject matter and bring a voice to those struggling with similar issues. However, you also maintain the quality of heaviness brought by Matt Walst, which kept Three Days Grace thriving after Gontier’s initial departure.

Together, the singers combined have only strengthened the band, bringing rawness and vulnerability to the lyrics while adding weight to the instrumentation with a sense that they are confronting their own legacy as much as their inner demons.

With grace and humility, Three Days Grace pushed aside ego and underscored that Gontier’s return wasn’t just another classic lineup restoration in heavy music but a bold step toward a brand new era that looks forward rather than resting on their existing legacy. Beyond some of the gloomier subjects on Alienation, the vibe surrounding this comeback was convincingly and contagiously positive — something everyone could use a little more of each day.

Three Days Grace, “Mayday”

What Did the Three Days Grace Fans Say About Alienation?

We’ve seen it happen with other bands where loyalties get divided when there are multiple successful eras and lineups. The commentary was not only civil but overwhelmingly positive after Three Days Grace decided to keep both singers and move forward together.

Upon the release of the new album, fans on Reddit were vocal. “Can we take a moment and appreciate how Matt is sounding on this album? I was ready for another Adam Gontier masterpiece but Matt just caught me off guard. Love the album,” noted one fan. “It’s honestly shocking how well their voices pair together,” added another.

“I think this is the first album since One-X, where I really enjoyed every song,” shared another fan. “This album for me sits between One-X and self-titled. Nothing but straight banger music man!” commented another fan.

A positive sign is that songs such as “In Cold Blood” and “Another Relapse” that have not been issued as singles were among the most frequently mentioned by fans discussing their favorites.

barry stock and adam gontier of three days grace

Thomas Cooper, Getty Images

What Does Alienation Mean For Three Days Grace?

We had a chance to speak with Adam Gontier and Matt Walst of Three Days Grace recently about Alienation‘s recognition as our Best Rock Album of 2025 and its positive response over the last calendar year.

“It’s incredible man,” says Gontier after learning of the Loudwire accolade and being asked about the universal response over the last year. “We put a lot into the album knowing this one would be so important. We put so much time and effort into this one, so it’s pretty awesome. We’ve been on the road too for this last while so we get to see it live as well. Just how it’s resonated with everyone is just mind-blowing, man. It’s incredible.”

One reason this has worked is due to the familial feel amongst members who all grew up together. As Matt Walst shares, “I think that we’re really at a place where there are no egos anymore,” while Gontier later adds, “Growing up together makes our foundation really strong. We were really good friends before the band took off so we have that foundation, which differentiates us from other bands. I feel like if these guys had gotten anyone else to take my place when I left, I’m not sure we’d be doing this. It would just be a different vibe.”

three days grace alienation album art

Alienation

According to Gontier, it was apparent early on that bringing him back went better than anyone expected. “We all had the same goal: we wanted to write the best album that the band has ever done or try to at least,” he explains. “Matt and I have a really good idea of who’s going to sing what and what fits each song’s style. Whether it’s a heavier bridge needing Matt’s scream or something floaty needing my melody, it all just came pretty naturally.”

What Were Three Days Grace’s 2025 Highlights?

When asked what they’ll remember most about 2025, Walst shares, “The tours we’ve done. We just did a tour with Breaking Benjamin across the states, which was awesome; places were packed.”

“We played our home city of Toronto, Ontario, selling out with 16,000 people there. A lot of our friends were there; that was big for me. Just playing Toronto felt like one of our best shows — it was insane! These tours have been amazing; seeing fans freaking out everywhere we go has been incredible.”

Gontier comments, “Every show day we do a meet-and-greet with people; it’s an incredible feeling having fans who have been there from Day 1 come up to us and share their excitement about both of us being back together. It’s crazy, man; it’s just been a trip.”

When asked for a favorite off the album, both musicians zero in on the ballad, “Don’t Wanna Go Home Tonight.” “It reminds me of growing up in Norwood where we all grew up. I’ve had many people close to me saying their wives and friends are listening to that song over and over again and loving it. I knew that one would be special from day one,” says Walst while joking that he and Gontier are “suckers for ballads.”

Three Days Grace, “Don’t Wanna Go Home Tonight”

What Were Three Days Grace’s Favorites of 2025?

Praising Three Days Grace for their 2025 album, we offered both Adam and Matt a chance to share which bands and albums moved them in 2025.

“I really like what <b sleep Token does; it’s just so different and good,” says Gontier. “I know everybody’s gotten on that trend; those guys are so talented.”

He also adds, “Bad Omens has done amazing things; I’m a huge fan of them. Their melodies and production are next level. For me, those two bands in particular are ones I’ll listen to front-to-back when driving or traveling. Sleep Token stands out from much music today; it’s refreshing.”

As for Walst , he offered , “I really liked Nothing More’s new album [which continued in 2025 with big radio singles]. The same producer who produced our album , Zakk Cervini , co-wrote it . I’ve been a big fan since they started out , knowing they were going to be special . We’ve had fun touring with them before .”