On June 5^th, 2012, the planet Venus passed in front of the Sun, an event that occurs every 243 years. That same day Three Days Grace announced their new album, Transit of Venus, an event that occurs every three years.

While the album may not live up to it’s namesake, Transit of Venus is a solid album, from a band that has been very consistent since 2003. It has it’s ups and downs, but for the most part, I think fans of the band will be pleased.

Three Days Grace formed in Ontario, Canada in 1992, originally under the name Groundswell. After breaking up in 1995, the band reformed in 1997 under the name Three Days Grace. The band originally consisted of lead singer/guitarist Adam Gontier, drummer/backing vocalist Neil Sanderson, and bassist Brad Walst. In 2003, before the release of their self-titled debut album, they added Barry Stock as lead guitarist.

Three Days Grace were signed to Jive Records on the strength of their lead, and still popular, single “I Hate Everything About You”. Including their debut, Three Days Grace has released three albums on Jive Records. The plan was to release Transit of Venus on Jive as well. However, in October, 2011, RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding some of it’s smaller labels, including Jive Records, and folding them all into RCA Records. Transit of Venus was transferred to the new label. This will mark the first Three Days Grace album released under a label other than Jive Records.

Transit of Venus is a decent album, with catchy hooks that have you singing along by the second time the chorus rolls around. But, while there are some pretty good songs, the album seems to lack big hits like “I Hate Everything About You”, “Animal I Have Become”, “Pain”, and “Never Too Late”. I’m not sure why this is. The album does not lack energy, or big hooks, or catchy lyrics. But at the same time, there are no songs here that I feel will be stuck in my head, like all the other songs I just mentioned. Perhaps this marks the beginning of the end of one of the most consistent hit machines of modern music? Only time will tell.

You can stream the full album for free at loudwire.com

Key Songs: “Give Me a Reason”, “Misery Loves My Company”, “Operate”, “Give in to Me”