The State On The State , Chad Kroeger hones his wounded howl of a voice into a formidable instrument, getting rid of some of the grit and bluster. Here, Nickelback craft epic songs about identity, self-worth, manhood and whether to leave familiar surroundings in order follow their dreams or just take root in the rich Alberta soil. It's interesting to see the trajectory of those dreams crumbling, only to be rebuilt again. Anthemic, introspective and brooding, this is a huge leap forward for these Canucks.