Best bet: Three Days Grace

By Diana Nollen

After a couple of traumatic life-and-death years, Three Days Grace has emerged with a new attitude.

The Toronto rockers have picked themselves up from singer/songwriter Adam Gontier's downward spiral of drugs and depression and captured the highs and lows on their latest CD, “Life Starts Now.”

Deemed a little less angry than their previous albums, the new one still captures a raw, edgy feel. “Bitter Taste” and “World so Cold” share space with more optimistic cuts like “The Good Life” and “Someone Who Cares.”

Despite their trials and tribulations, Billboard named the Canadian alt-metal rockers the top rock artists of the year in 2007, fueled by such hits as “Animal I've Become,” “Pain” and “Never Too Late” off the One-X album. Previous hits include “I Hate Everything About You,” “Just Like You” and “Home” off their 2003 self-titled debut album.

They'll bring their mix of heartache and hopefulness to the U.S. Cellular Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, sharing the headlining honors with Pennsylvania rockers Breaking Benjamin. Texas band Fly Leaf will open the show.

Post-grunge, alt-metal Breaking Benjamin brings firepower to the show, as well, with gold and platinum albums and the 2009 release, “Dear Agony.” They've hit the top of the U.S. charts with “I Will Not Bow” and “Breath.”

Seems like a natural pairing with Three Days Grace.

General admission tickets are $39.75 through the U.S. Cellular Center Ticket Office, back in its downtown location, 370 First Ave. NE; all Ticketmaster outlets; 1-(800) 745-3000; and

www.ticketmaster.com