Their funk-metal tendencies are present in tracks such as "Cupid's Dead", which also features a rap section performed by guest John Preziosa Jr. As a whole, this side deals with political subjects: war ("Warheads"), peace ("Rest in Peace"), government ("Politicalamity"), racism ("Color Me Blind"), media ("Cupid's Dead").

Summing up these matters, the side closes with "Peacemaker Die", a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., which features a recording of his famous 1963 "I Have A Dream" speech.

With "Stop The World", the album starts to delve into more philosophical questions, expressing existential doubts — a theme that leads to religion, with "God Isn't Dead?"

This side nods to progressive rock not only in format but also in musical style, with changes in time signature and an intricate arrangement, featuring a 70-piece orchestra.

Additionally, Pat Badger is seen playing a Höfner 500/1 bass, similar to that used by Paul McCartney, in the music video for "Tragic Comic".

Despite being considered one of Extreme's best albums by fans and music critics, III Sides to Every Story was a commercial failure (only selling about 700,000 copies, compared to the double platinum Pornograffitti), since it did not feature a hit single such as "More Than Words" (which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1991),[9] from its predecessor Pornograffitti (although the single "Rest in Peace" reached number one on the Mainstream Rock chart).