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In the ever-unfolding and expanding musical lives of multi-platinum Massachusetts-based
band STAIND, CHAPTER V opens the book on a new phase of their journey. The 12-song
album, produced by David Botrill (Tool, Godsmack) features the first single, the
classic, mid-tempo and dynamic 'Right Here,' as well standouts like the edgy, dark
'Falling,' the poignant, retro-feeling 'Schizophrenic Conversations,' and the soaring
'Everything Changes.' CHAPTER V is Staind at their best, with songs ranging from
forceful to quiet, from industrial-tinged to melodious, often within one song and
with singer AARON LEWIS' instantly recognizable voice heartfelt and fervent. Lyrically,
Lewis isn't afraid to look deep, and what he findsthe good, bad and uglyis translated
into soul-baring songs that he often agonizes over. 'I'm my own worst critic,' Lewis
admits. 'The personal songs; it's a way for me to get those things out, because
I wouldn't feel comfortable saying them to anyone. I'm pretty bad about being an
internalistI hold everything down and then explode. It's better for everyone around
me that I put that explosion down into lyrics rather than just exploding on somebody.'
As for where CHAPTER V fits into the band's legacy, Lewis puts the CD into perspective:
'It's the fifth chapter of feelings in a six-year long book; a narrative of feelings.
The title makes people go, wait a second; DYSFUNCTION, BREAK THE CYCLE, 14 SHADES
OF GREY, CHAPTER V that's only four?' So it will make people look for the fifth
one.' (Which, for the record, is 1996's independent release, TORMENTED.) On CHAPTER
V, as on previous albums, Lewis says, 'Lyrically, I always try to be as perfectly
vague as possible. I mean, do you really want the director's exact interpretation
of what the movie is given to you?' That said, it's clear that Lewis does lay bare
his emotions, and on the album's apt closer, 'Reply,' those are feelings of thankfulness
expressed to the band's legions of faithful fans. In the song, Lewis sings, 'So
thank you for the letters that you thought you wrote in vain/And for the times you
choose to stand out in the rain and wait for meThe life I live would never be the
same, without you here.'
Many of those fans have been with Staind for more than 10 years. It's been a decade
since Staind played their first gig in February, 1995, and the ensuing years have
been an escalating cycle of musical and personal growth and increasing success,
without the accompanying blown-up egos that destroy so many bands. TORMENTED, Staind's
self-released debut, came out in 1996, and, playing the New England area over the
next several years, the quartet came to the attention of Flip Records. DYSFUNCTION
came out on the label in 1999, achieving platinum-plus status thanks to songs like
'Just Go,' 'Mudshovel' and 'Home.' A cut on the FAMILY VALUES TOUR 1999 CD, 'Outside,'
became a #1 rock single, while a hit version also appeared on Staind's next album,
2001's BREAK THE CYCLE. That CD entered the Billboard Top 200 albums chart at #1
and has sold more than eight million albums to date. The songs 'Fade,' 'For You,'
'Epiphany' and 'It's Been Awhile' from BREAK THE CYCLE made the band certified superstars,
with 'It's Been Awhile' spending 16 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart.
A gold-certified MTV UNPLUGGED DVD followed in 2002, with 2003 seeing the release
of the critically-acclaimed 14 SHADES OF GREY, a CD that was praised by the New
York Post for its 'intense, propulsive melodies' and lauded as a 'slow-burn collection'
with 'staying power.' 14 SHADES OF GREY marked the band's second #1 entry on the
Billboard 'Top 200 Album Chart.'
Staind felt 14 SHADES OF GREY was their high-water mark to date, but were ready
for the challenge of beginning work on its follow up in 2004. Band co-founder MIKE
MUSHOK found that the process of making CHAPTER V played into the album's ultimate
sound. 'We did our last two records (BREAK THE CYCLE and 14 SHADES OF GREY) with
producer Josh Abraham, and we were thrilled with them, but we felt it was time to
change things up; maybe take it somewhere different and get a new outlook.'
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