Nickelback bassist Mike Kroeger recently addressed concerns about the band’s sound change in their upcoming new album.
The conversation touched on the band’s heavy new single “Rattle the Cage” from their upcoming album Everything Under the Sun. It also covered the recurring misconception that Nickelback is purely a radio-friendly band. When asked about casual fans being surprised by the band’s heavier side — with the interviewer noting, “The casuals, they don’t know that Nickelback are a hard rock band” — Kroeger was straightforward in his response.
“Yeah, that’s who we are and that’s what we are,” Kroeger said. “We’ve been, you know, metalheads to, you know, one degree or another, all of us the whole time.”
Kroeger then acknowledged the criticism the band occasionally receives from listeners who only know their radio hits.
“But it is peculiar when, you know, that this every once in a while we get the criticism that, you know, oh, I don’t, you know, listen to Nickelback because it’s all just radio songs,” he continued. “It’s like, well, you know that because you’re listening to the radio. So, you know, confusion.”
He went on to emphasize that a deeper listen to the band’s catalog would reveal their true rock identity.
“But, you know, if anybody actually gives a listen to one of our albums, you know, listens beyond the singles, they hear, you know, there’s a there’s a, uh, a rock and roll DNA there that is pretty much undeniable,” Kroeger added.
Everything Under the Sun is Nickelback’s eleventh studio album. It serves as the follow-up to their 2022 record Get Rollin’ and will be released via Virgin Music Group on October 30th.
The lead single “Rattle the Cage” features a guest appearance from Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5, who also appears on the full album track. The collaboration signals the band’s intent to lean into their heavier instincts, pairing their signature hard rock sound with one of the genre’s most recognizable guitar figures.
Frontman Chad Kroeger has stated that the record captures every side of the band. It blends heavy rock anthems with more reflective songs to showcase their full sonic range. “This album has every side of the band on it,” he said — a sentiment that aligns directly with Mike Kroeger’s point that the band’s identity has always extended well beyond what gets played on the radio.
For a band that has sold over 50 million albums worldwide, the gap between public perception and musical reality remains a recurring frustration. Everything Under the Sun appears to be their most deliberate attempt yet to close it.
Source: Audacy Music
