Having just seen Yngwie Malmsteen’s set at Manchester’s Academy, I’m traveling back to sunny Blackpool, amid the discussion of the relative treats of the fastest, maddest, most eccentric guitar player on the planet (review available elsewhere on the site, and a worthwhile read I’ll guarantee) my erstwhile colleague in arms, Senor Willy Eckerslike decides to bung this in the “in-car” juke box. And even after midnight, with a myriad of bikes racing to catch the TT ferry, filing past at 70mph (officer) I’m utterly floored by this album. Fast forward to Saturday morning, I replay the CD in the cold light of day (at the crack of midday) and it is just the most complete recording I’ve ever heard. In the sense that it is not, in any way a Metal album, just a collection of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard.

For some reason, 3 Doors Down, who in honesty I’ve never heard anything by before, have created something so fantastically intense, but in a very subtle way. Imagine the scene, a few beers in the boozer, you get home and spin this in ye olde death deck, the curry is to be delivered in about a half hour, so you open a bottle of wine and collapse in your favourite chair and Jesus, it’s every shite relationship you’ve ever had and the best sex you’ve ever had all at the same time. Incubus meets Nickelback meets some of the most head wrecking tracks in existence, true it’s ballad heavy in a sublime way, tasty guitar lines accentuate a hybrid MOR brain chiller. It’s just, well, beautiful, in every sense and bear in mind as I write this waffle, I have no background info on the band, so I’m judging it as I hear it. 

It’s now 04:35 in the morning, can’t sleep, so it’s got to be worth another spin. And I can’t find any fault whatsoever, just incredible. Don’t get me wrong it’s not a slushy, Celine Dion collection, there’s ballsy guitar, dynamics and lyrics that tear at the heartstrings but it has the “chillout” quality, just a dreamy, laid back attitude that conveys the message with a feeling that, I’m sure, we’ve all “been there”. Probably not the kind of stuff we usually promote on the site, but I’m convinced it has its place. 

Opener  “Right Where I Belong” has that infectious groove, evident throughout the cd and just puts over the initial feeling of anger when there’s a break up of a relationship, “It’s Not Me” and “Let Me Go” continue the heartbreak but not in a depressing way. Just the kind of words you wish you could have said, but never got the chance. You’ve got to be open to this, maybe you’ve lived it, and I think we all have. Sounds a bit weird but it’s really struck a chord with me, strangely uplifting in the end.  

The production quality is spot on, dynamics are the key, it bursts into life where needed and yet breaks your heart at the same time, which defines the CD in it’s entirety. The subject matter is admittedly “head” heavy and yet gives a sense of overall calm and if that was the initial intention, then it will score a ten on every count. I’ll listen to this for years to come, just because it subliminally defines the best and worst of what life has to offer. For it’s subject matter and relative definition of what can be achieved when you delve deep into your heart, the whole album offers some serious answers and I fear I may have given a negative impression of the overall message, but be very clear, Seventeen Days is without doubt, one of the most complete, professional pieces of music, I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to

Let us know your views on 'Seventeen Days'

Track List

Right Where I Belong
It's Not Me
Let Me Go
Be Somebody
Landing in London
Real Life
Behind Those Eyes
Never Will I Break
Father's Son
Live for Today
My World
Here by Me
Here Without You [Acoustic]
Away from the Sun [Acoustic]

Line Up

Brad Arnold - Vocals
Matt Roberts - Guitar
Todd Harrell - Bass
Chris Henderson - Guitar