My Darkest Days (Bonus Track Version)

Discovered by Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, it should come as no surprise that My Darkest Days' self-titled debut album echoes much of Nickelback's post-grunge rock-power contrasted with the kind of glossy Hot Topic emo-pop hooks reminiscent of Fall Out Boy. But there's also a hint of White Zombie's knack for writing decadent nightlife anthems; right from the get-go the opening song "Move Your Body" pumps and grinds under a highly polished, radio-ready production. Following that, Zakk Wylde lends some of his sinister-sounding six-string prowess to "Porn Star Dancing," giving the serpentine song more wah- wah pedal than the sum of the '60s. The Exclusive Edition features a remix of this tune with guest appearances by Kroeger and Ludacris. The melodramatic "Every Lie" reveals a fondness for '80s New Jersey pop-metal like Bon Jovi and Trixter — it's loaded with barbed hooks and a cheesy narrative making for an instant guilty pleasure. Of course no modern-day rock band would be complete without high-school make-out ballads and My Darkest Days is abundant with them — "Like Nobody Else" being the album's standout serenade.