Staind - 'Staind'

New album by the alternative metal band.

Originally impressing Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst with a live performance and having a hit single (It’s Been A While’) in the same year (2001) that Nickelback broke through with their single (yes you know the one!) isn’t a great way to endear yourself to the melodic rock fraternity but Staind perhaps get unfair criticism.

Transforming into a relevant alternative metal band from Nu metal beginnings was no mean feat and breakthrough album ‘Break The Cycle’ has to date sold seven million copies with four million sold in the year of release. Yet, although it remains the bands most successful album it wasn’t the bands most mainstream; that accolade goes to the follow up ‘14 Shades of Grey’. The single ‘It’s Been A While’ from ‘Break the Cycle’ stayed on top of mainstream and modern rock charts for one of the joint longest number of weeks in history.

Singer Aaron Lewis has proved that there is life outside of Staind by tasting success in country music with his solo work. The new Staind album is about as far away from that as it gets. This self-titled album - perhaps an attempt to go back to the beginning - sees a return to the heavier material that the band dabbled with in the early part of their career where they were compared with the likes of Korn. Opener ‘Eyes Wide Open’ is a heavy riff monster bringing to mind The Deftones yet retaining that characteristic Staind underbelly, whilst ‘Not Again’ retains enough melody to ensure that this album doesn’t nose dive into a pit of pure aggression. ‘Falling’ is a slow burner, highlighting Lewis’s slightly depressing vocal delivery and throaty growls. ‘Throw It All Away’ is instantly recognizable as a Staind song yet ‘Now’ is one of the most uncharacteristic Staind songs that you are likely to hear; rumbling along at a fair old pace it comes complete with a great hook and guitar solo to boot.

A new Staind album may not please everyone but it can still be argued that Staind’s creative juices are still running faster than ever even if the band is perhaps reaching the twilight of its existence

Mike Newdeck