This Addiction

Released in 2010, This Addiction marks a pivotal moment in Alkaline Trio's discography as their first release on their own Heart & Skull imprint. Following the highly polished, major-label sheen of Agony & Irony, the band made a deliberate choice to return to Chicago and reunite with producer Matt Allison at Atlas Studios. This move was a conscious effort to reclaim the 'Midwest Punk' identity of their seminal early albums. The record debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200, proving that their core audience remained loyal to their darker, less-processed sound. Critics, including those at AllMusic, noted the album's successful balance between the band's pop sensibilities and their punk origins. While it features classic horror-punk tropes in tracks like 'Draculina,' it also delves into political commentary with 'The American Scream,' inspired by the death of a soldier. It stands as a bridge between their scrappy beginnings and their status as elder statesmen of the genre.