Alkaline Trio has been around for quite sometime now. These near-Chicago natives have been bringing the punk rock that kids like for almost 15 years, with a pretty consistent sound for most of that time. Theirs is a darker aesthetic, due to lyrical content that often makes allusions to drugs, alcohol, suicide and death. You know, the lighter topics of life. But to be honest, it’s all wrapped in very catchy music and vocal lines and most of these references (to my knowledge) are used as metaphors in songs that mostly deal with relationships and the struggles of everyday life.

This Addiction (their seventh full-length album and first on Epitaph) is no exception. Song titles include the title track, “Lead Poisoning,” “Dead on the Floor,” “Eating Me Alive,” and “Piss and Vinegar.” Without trying for the pun, you can tell that these guys get slightly pissed off about life. But again, it’s all neatly packaged in that punk packaging (with poppy tendencies). Vocalists Matt Skiba and Dan Andriano continue to trade off singing responsibilities, with great results. In the current punk scene, both guys are blessed with very distinctive voices, making the Alkaline Trio sound unmistakable.

But they also managed to throw in a few experiments here and there this time around: a horn section on “Lead Poisoning,” dancing synths on “Eating Me Alive.” Purists might hate these additions, but I think they give new life to the Alk3 sound. I also loved the quieter, toned-down sound of album closer “Fine.” While I usually like Skiba’s voice in the lead, Andriano’s vocal line here is fantastic. It’s a solid way to bring the record to an end on a slightly different note.

All in all, This Addiction is more from the Alkaline Trio that we all know and love. It doesn’t reinvent their sound too much, but continues the trajectory they started back in 1996. Whether you’re up for the ride depends on how much you’ve liked them all along.