I’ve accidentally stumbled across an answer to a question many are too frightened to even ask: What could be worse than Nickelback? Well, imagine a band actually trying to be Nickelback. *shudder* To be fair, Vancouver’s Fully Loaded (nice name, guys) may not sound exactly like Canada’s multi-platinum equivalent to the colour beige, but they will certainly appeal to the same demographic: the tin-eared, easily manipulated, 12-year-olds who don’t know any better, and those with a perverse sense of humour. This overproduced, formulaic style of soulless, faux-aggression arena rock and gut-wrenching ballads almost make Fully Loaded too easy to hate. Almost. Inside My Head showcases a band too unwilling or too unable to show even one original expression lyrically, sonically and judging by the album cover, visually either. It will probably sell millions.

Published in Volume 63, Number 25 of The Uniter (March 26, 2009)