Chad Kroeger transforms the fear of temporary love into a raw and heartbreaking plea.

Canadian rock band Nickelback is BACK with another hard-hitting EP. Formed in the ’90s, the group is best known for massive hits like “How You Remind Me,” “Rockstar,” and “Burn It to the Ground.” I know at least one of those immediately started playing in your head.

The new EP features four songs from Nickelback’s upcoming album, Everything Under the Sun. “Make Me Love You,” “Leave Me Behind,” “Rattle the Cage,” and “Bones for the Crows” give us an early look at the band’s next era. Together, the tracks explore several forms of pain, including the fear of abandonment, the desperation to make someone stay, anger, resilience, and survival. Some songs lean more heavily into vivid imagery and emotional lyricism, while others unleash the band’s heavier instrumentation.

The EP’s title track, “Make Me Love You,” is heartbreaking, vulnerable, and painfully honest. Chad Kroeger begs someone not to make him fall in love if they have no intention of staying and building a life with him.

I usually prefer Nickelback’s heavier and faster material, but the raw emotion behind “Make Me Love You” won me over. Kroeger’s voice is perfectly suited to this kind of pain, allowing listeners to experience every ounce of heartbreak alongside him.

Luna