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'Break The Cycle' is the third album to be released by one of America's hottest hidden heroes, Staind. Aaron Lewis and his men are newcomers to Britain, and owe a lot of their world-wide success to Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. Who helped to get the band a major contract with Flip records.
They've been huge in the U.S. for quite some time, and have previously toured with Limp Bizkit, Korn, Kid Rock (the artist, not the poster on the site!) and Incubus, to name as a few, in America. They came to the U.K. for their first visit earlier this year, and failed hugely to dissapoint. 'Break The Cycle' is the only album released in U.K. stores, with 'Tormented' and 'Dysfunction' available by order ONLY. Unless you live in the U.S.
So, here's how 'Break The Cycle' wil make you sit up and recognise 'Staind'...
No nonsense and no Intro for this lot. The album goes straight into Track 1 with a blast!!
Track 1 - Open Your Eyes: With an intro that 'explodes' into the nu-metal that helped Staind reach no.1 spot after the release of this album in the US Bilboard Charts. Great guitar rifts, and rhythms that help this track kick start the album with a strong effect. More albums need an 'explosive' track like this to really make you sit-up and listento the music, just like the title says: 'Open you Eyes'. One thing you shouldn't do is "take everything for granted like you do", especially with 'Break The Cycle'. This track WILL make you 'Open Your Eyes'!
Track 2 - Pressure: Follows on from Track 1 well, with an even stronger rhythm of electric guitars. Also showing the true power of Aaron Lewis' vocals!! This is a song that sounds how you feel under pressure. Like how you "can't take this" and come unglued", "drowning in this" with "too much pressure". Lyrics that describe all feelings felt when you feel pressure in your life!! The content of this song is about 'exactly' what the title says. This is currently my favourite track on the album, and I think it would make a great single in the near future!
Track 3 - Fade: Their second single released in the U.K. 'Fade' is all about staying/being how/what you want to be, and when you want to be it. Not being different or feeling left out as "Everything else just stays the same", and how you want to "Express how" you "felt" during the changes in your life when no-one's ever there for you. Not one of the more 'heavier' metal songs, and quite 'balladic' in the main verses. A strong intro and chorus helped to make 'Fade' a top single.
Track 4 - It's Been A While: This was Staind's first U.K. single release, earlier this year. It's a radio fiendly balladic, love-themed song (apart from some lyrical content). Aaron Lewis expresses how he feels about a former loved one, even after time apart. Lewis tries to explain how he's changed from 'f'-ing things up, just like he always did'. With "I'm sorry" added right at the end, like signing off at the end of a love letter. This is a song that'll stick in you're head, and one you'l never tire of hearing. Good acoustics and vocals from Lewis, with an effective use of electric guitar in the chorus, as Lewis' feelings grow stronger. A top single that's one of the top 5 on this album.
Track 5 - Change: Starts off at a steady pace with calm acoustics and an expression in lyrics upto the chorus. Then, it moves from 'balladic' to more 'metallic'. Along with powerull vocals from Aaron Lewis. You may not think too much of this song at first, but when the chorus kicks in you'll start to feel more of what this song's all about. Having to adjust to changes and familliar feelings.
Track 6 - Can't Believe: Aaron Lewis kicks off the acoustic intro with powerfull vocals, almost growling 'Slipknot style' for "Respect". That's pretty much how the rest of this track goes. With one or two acoustic solos in between verses. And brilliant solos from electric guitars which really help to keep the strong feel in this song. You'll like this track if you like anything slightly 'metallic', but not particularly if you're more of a 'ballad' fan.
Track 7 - Epiphany: This is a constant ballad where Lewis tries to reveal his true feelings of how he sees himself, and what he sees around himself. A much slower, pace than previous songs. With well thought out creative lyrics, produced well by Lewis, giving off his emotions and feelings with each note he hits. You may find this track too boring, comopared to others on this album, definitley if you're a music lover of the metal kind.
Track 8 - Suffer: More powerfull vocals from Lewis with strong guitar rifts. Together giving a darker mood to the track. Which lightens up in the chorus when you "come to find everthing's O.K." in the way this song pulls together. This isn't a song you can listen to over and over again, without tiring of. The chorus really brings the track back to life, aswell as the last verse. A good track, but one you may tire of.
Track 9 - Warm Safe Place: Starts off slow, but then picks up with well planned guitar rifts. Emotionally expressed verses with a chorus that is a slight step up. The chorus one of the best on the album. When both read and heard. The later verses also bring the trsck's standard up, and compare well with the chorus. You'll like this track if you like a less heavier sense of metal, with the added mix of a ballad.
Track 10 - For You: Good intro that works well to bring in the first chorus. "The silence gets us no-where" but this track goes everywhere, up and down. Great build up to the last chorus, which is possibly the best part of this track. It'll be quite a while before you tire from this song.
Track 11 - Outside: Claimed by many to be the best song on the album. Partially as it was the first song many of us heard here in the U.K., in a live recording with Fred Durst. It's also the third (and latest) single to be released from this top album, and a week or two ago.
This is a real contender for 'Acoustics Of The Year', if there is such an award? They are brilliant!! Defintley some of the best you'll hear for this year an the next! And with electric guitars added to the chorus, with great vocals (again!) this is one song that'll stick inyour head forever. Aaron Lewis' vocals are especially brilliant in the last verse. The lyrical content is all about feeling left out, and not being able to fit in. Something i'm sure everyone's felt before! This is possibly the best track on the album, and was mine, untill I heard 'Pressure'!
Track 12 - Waste: An intro of beats and acoustics (works well again), leading into a strong first verse of onces again, vocals of the highest quality, giving a top of the range effect! The last verse is simply stunning! Not just because of the number of times lewis and his back-up (that I think sounds like Fred Durst??) use the 'F' word, but mainly because of how well the strong guitar rifts work exceptionally alongside. This is a track you'll like to repeat and one you cannot forget.
Track 13 - Take It: This is the last studio-recorded track on the album, but not the worst. It starts off with an intro that sounds similar to a Marilyn Manson song (possibly 'Rock Is Dead'). This then leads into simple lyrics by Lewis, leading into the first chorus. The lyrics of this song mainly are from Lewis trying to display himself as something special to women (mainly in the chorus). But the verses are abouthow bad he feels and can't make his problems go away. This is a good track, but could be claimed as too short. I don't think the ending goes to well compared to the rest of the song. It seems like it just 'cuts it off too soon', and should be something the drags on for slightly longer. But I don't see why you shouldn't enjoy this album.
Track 14 - Outside (LIVE!): This live recording from the familly values tour features the additional vocals of Fred Durst, with Aaron Lewis providing both acoustic rifts and the main vocals. While the rest of the band take a breake from the live tour.
This isn't too different to the studio-recorded version, except for the additon of Durst, and there are no drum beats or electric guitar rifts to support in the chorus. This is probaably the first song ever heard by people in the U.K.,as it appeared on TV a while before the album release. But it wasn't released as a single untill only recently. This is a song that shows you the true potential of Staind, and how hard they work live. You really have to hear it to believe it!!
So there you go, Staind - Break The Cycle. It's definitley worth every penny. It may not suit fans of 'pop' music, and definitley isn't for dance fans! Neither is it suitable for fans of something 'nice and happy', as this album is also known as a 'depression'? To love this, you'll be a regular listener to the 'not so heavy' metal, and power ballads. But this is a masterpiece from America.
My rating: 98% This is a good Stain on the music world!!
They've been huge in the U.S. for quite some time, and have previously toured with Limp Bizkit, Korn, Kid Rock (the artist, not the poster on the site!) and Incubus, to name as a few, in America. They came to the U.K. for their first visit earlier this year, and failed hugely to dissapoint. 'Break The Cycle' is the only album released in U.K. stores, with 'Tormented' and 'Dysfunction' available by order ONLY. Unless you live in the U.S.
So, here's how 'Break The Cycle' wil make you sit up and recognise 'Staind'...
No nonsense and no Intro for this lot. The album goes straight into Track 1 with a blast!!
Track 1 - Open Your Eyes: With an intro that 'explodes' into the nu-metal that helped Staind reach no.1 spot after the release of this album in the US Bilboard Charts. Great guitar rifts, and rhythms that help this track kick start the album with a strong effect. More albums need an 'explosive' track like this to really make you sit-up and listento the music, just like the title says: 'Open you Eyes'. One thing you shouldn't do is "take everything for granted like you do", especially with 'Break The Cycle'. This track WILL make you 'Open Your Eyes'!
Track 2 - Pressure: Follows on from Track 1 well, with an even stronger rhythm of electric guitars. Also showing the true power of Aaron Lewis' vocals!! This is a song that sounds how you feel under pressure. Like how you "can't take this" and come unglued", "drowning in this" with "too much pressure". Lyrics that describe all feelings felt when you feel pressure in your life!! The content of this song is about 'exactly' what the title says. This is currently my favourite track on the album, and I think it would make a great single in the near future!
Track 3 - Fade: Their second single released in the U.K. 'Fade' is all about staying/being how/what you want to be, and when you want to be it. Not being different or feeling left out as "Everything else just stays the same", and how you want to "Express how" you "felt" during the changes in your life when no-one's ever there for you. Not one of the more 'heavier' metal songs, and quite 'balladic' in the main verses. A strong intro and chorus helped to make 'Fade' a top single.
Track 4 - It's Been A While: This was Staind's first U.K. single release, earlier this year. It's a radio fiendly balladic, love-themed song (apart from some lyrical content). Aaron Lewis expresses how he feels about a former loved one, even after time apart. Lewis tries to explain how he's changed from 'f'-ing things up, just like he always did'. With "I'm sorry" added right at the end, like signing off at the end of a love letter. This is a song that'll stick in you're head, and one you'l never tire of hearing. Good acoustics and vocals from Lewis, with an effective use of electric guitar in the chorus, as Lewis' feelings grow stronger. A top single that's one of the top 5 on this album.
Track 5 - Change: Starts off at a steady pace with calm acoustics and an expression in lyrics upto the chorus. Then, it moves from 'balladic' to more 'metallic'. Along with powerull vocals from Aaron Lewis. You may not think too much of this song at first, but when the chorus kicks in you'll start to feel more of what this song's all about. Having to adjust to changes and familliar feelings.
Track 6 - Can't Believe: Aaron Lewis kicks off the acoustic intro with powerfull vocals, almost growling 'Slipknot style' for "Respect". That's pretty much how the rest of this track goes. With one or two acoustic solos in between verses. And brilliant solos from electric guitars which really help to keep the strong feel in this song. You'll like this track if you like anything slightly 'metallic', but not particularly if you're more of a 'ballad' fan.
Track 7 - Epiphany: This is a constant ballad where Lewis tries to reveal his true feelings of how he sees himself, and what he sees around himself. A much slower, pace than previous songs. With well thought out creative lyrics, produced well by Lewis, giving off his emotions and feelings with each note he hits. You may find this track too boring, comopared to others on this album, definitley if you're a music lover of the metal kind.
Track 8 - Suffer: More powerfull vocals from Lewis with strong guitar rifts. Together giving a darker mood to the track. Which lightens up in the chorus when you "come to find everthing's O.K." in the way this song pulls together. This isn't a song you can listen to over and over again, without tiring of. The chorus really brings the track back to life, aswell as the last verse. A good track, but one you may tire of.
Track 9 - Warm Safe Place: Starts off slow, but then picks up with well planned guitar rifts. Emotionally expressed verses with a chorus that is a slight step up. The chorus one of the best on the album. When both read and heard. The later verses also bring the trsck's standard up, and compare well with the chorus. You'll like this track if you like a less heavier sense of metal, with the added mix of a ballad.
Track 10 - For You: Good intro that works well to bring in the first chorus. "The silence gets us no-where" but this track goes everywhere, up and down. Great build up to the last chorus, which is possibly the best part of this track. It'll be quite a while before you tire from this song.
Track 11 - Outside: Claimed by many to be the best song on the album. Partially as it was the first song many of us heard here in the U.K., in a live recording with Fred Durst. It's also the third (and latest) single to be released from this top album, and a week or two ago.
This is a real contender for 'Acoustics Of The Year', if there is such an award? They are brilliant!! Defintley some of the best you'll hear for this year an the next! And with electric guitars added to the chorus, with great vocals (again!) this is one song that'll stick inyour head forever. Aaron Lewis' vocals are especially brilliant in the last verse. The lyrical content is all about feeling left out, and not being able to fit in. Something i'm sure everyone's felt before! This is possibly the best track on the album, and was mine, untill I heard 'Pressure'!
Track 12 - Waste: An intro of beats and acoustics (works well again), leading into a strong first verse of onces again, vocals of the highest quality, giving a top of the range effect! The last verse is simply stunning! Not just because of the number of times lewis and his back-up (that I think sounds like Fred Durst??) use the 'F' word, but mainly because of how well the strong guitar rifts work exceptionally alongside. This is a track you'll like to repeat and one you cannot forget.
Track 13 - Take It: This is the last studio-recorded track on the album, but not the worst. It starts off with an intro that sounds similar to a Marilyn Manson song (possibly 'Rock Is Dead'). This then leads into simple lyrics by Lewis, leading into the first chorus. The lyrics of this song mainly are from Lewis trying to display himself as something special to women (mainly in the chorus). But the verses are abouthow bad he feels and can't make his problems go away. This is a good track, but could be claimed as too short. I don't think the ending goes to well compared to the rest of the song. It seems like it just 'cuts it off too soon', and should be something the drags on for slightly longer. But I don't see why you shouldn't enjoy this album.
Track 14 - Outside (LIVE!): This live recording from the familly values tour features the additional vocals of Fred Durst, with Aaron Lewis providing both acoustic rifts and the main vocals. While the rest of the band take a breake from the live tour.
This isn't too different to the studio-recorded version, except for the additon of Durst, and there are no drum beats or electric guitar rifts to support in the chorus. This is probaably the first song ever heard by people in the U.K.,as it appeared on TV a while before the album release. But it wasn't released as a single untill only recently. This is a song that shows you the true potential of Staind, and how hard they work live. You really have to hear it to believe it!!
So there you go, Staind - Break The Cycle. It's definitley worth every penny. It may not suit fans of 'pop' music, and definitley isn't for dance fans! Neither is it suitable for fans of something 'nice and happy', as this album is also known as a 'depression'? To love this, you'll be a regular listener to the 'not so heavy' metal, and power ballads. But this is a masterpiece from America.
My rating: 98% This is a good Stain on the music world!!
Page:
Now I don't particularly care for Fred Durst's own band, but I agree that Staind are pretty good. Perhaps it's because they sound more like the old school metal bands than the pop-styled rap/metal that seems to be appearing from every corner of the charts these days.
Staind seem to have captured the hearts of people longing for some decent metal without the (c)rap in the middle, but in my opinion, although the album is good and well worth buying, it doesn't hold a candle to earlier rock and metal artists from the 70's or 80's. What is it about modern metal and rock music? Surely someone should come along with a decent band and produce something that can rival the classic artists.
Oh well, must be a sign of me getting old, I guess!
Staind seem to have captured the hearts of people longing for some decent metal without the (c)rap in the middle, but in my opinion, although the album is good and well worth buying, it doesn't hold a candle to earlier rock and metal artists from the 70's or 80's. What is it about modern metal and rock music? Surely someone should come along with a decent band and produce something that can rival the classic artists.
Oh well, must be a sign of me getting old, I guess!
The old Staind were better.
Additional Staind trivia:
Outside was originally not intended to be part of the highly success 'Break The Cycle' album. It only was, thanks to Staind's P.R. man, Fred Durst.
While on the familly values tour, with Staind, Durst suggested that Aaron Lewis performs 'Outside', as he had a problem deciding which song to perform next. So Lewis agreed, and Durst accompanied him on stage.
This made 'Outside' even more popular than before. And Staind decided to add it to the album, along with the live recording from the tour. Partly because of how successfull it was, and as a sign to say thank you for the familly values tour.
Who knows what would have happened otherwise?? Would Staind have made it big time without Fred's help?? People should stop moaning at and critisising him, and appreciate him for all the work he's done for other bands.
I'd like to wish him 'good luck' with his directing!
- and I just did.
Outside was originally not intended to be part of the highly success 'Break The Cycle' album. It only was, thanks to Staind's P.R. man, Fred Durst.
While on the familly values tour, with Staind, Durst suggested that Aaron Lewis performs 'Outside', as he had a problem deciding which song to perform next. So Lewis agreed, and Durst accompanied him on stage.
This made 'Outside' even more popular than before. And Staind decided to add it to the album, along with the live recording from the tour. Partly because of how successfull it was, and as a sign to say thank you for the familly values tour.
Who knows what would have happened otherwise?? Would Staind have made it big time without Fred's help?? People should stop moaning at and critisising him, and appreciate him for all the work he's done for other bands.
I'd like to wish him 'good luck' with his directing!
- and I just did.
'Break The Cycle' is the third album to be released by one of America's hottest hidden heroes, Staind. Aaron Lewis and his men are newcomers to Britain, and owe a lot of their world-wide success to Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. Who helped to get the band a major contract with Flip records.
They've been huge in the U.S. for quite some time, and have previously toured with Limp Bizkit, Korn, Kid Rock (the artist, not the poster on the site!) and Incubus, to name as a few, in America. They came to the U.K. for their first visit earlier this year, and failed hugely to dissapoint. 'Break The Cycle' is the only album released in U.K. stores, with 'Tormented' and 'Dysfunction' available by order ONLY. Unless you live in the U.S.
So, here's how 'Break The Cycle' wil make you sit up and recognise 'Staind'...
No nonsense and no Intro for this lot. The album goes straight into Track 1 with a blast!!
Track 1 - Open Your Eyes: With an intro that 'explodes' into the nu-metal that helped Staind reach no.1 spot after the release of this album in the US Bilboard Charts. Great guitar rifts, and rhythms that help this track kick start the album with a strong effect. More albums need an 'explosive' track like this to really make you sit-up and listento the music, just like the title says: 'Open you Eyes'. One thing you shouldn't do is "take everything for granted like you do", especially with 'Break The Cycle'. This track WILL make you 'Open Your Eyes'!
Track 2 - Pressure: Follows on from Track 1 well, with an even stronger rhythm of electric guitars. Also showing the true power of Aaron Lewis' vocals!! This is a song that sounds how you feel under pressure. Like how you "can't take this" and come unglued", "drowning in this" with "too much pressure". Lyrics that describe all feelings felt when you feel pressure in your life!! The content of this song is about 'exactly' what the title says. This is currently my favourite track on the album, and I think it would make a great single in the near future!
Track 3 - Fade: Their second single released in the U.K. 'Fade' is all about staying/being how/what you want to be, and when you want to be it. Not being different or feeling left out as "Everything else just stays the same", and how you want to "Express how" you "felt" during the changes in your life when no-one's ever there for you. Not one of the more 'heavier' metal songs, and quite 'balladic' in the main verses. A strong intro and chorus helped to make 'Fade' a top single.
Track 4 - It's Been A While: This was Staind's first U.K. single release, earlier this year. It's a radio fiendly balladic, love-themed song (apart from some lyrical content). Aaron Lewis expresses how he feels about a former loved one, even after time apart. Lewis tries to explain how he's changed from 'f'-ing things up, just like he always did'. With "I'm sorry" added right at the end, like signing off at the end of a love letter. This is a song that'll stick in you're head, and one you'l never tire of hearing. Good acoustics and vocals from Lewis, with an effective use of electric guitar in the chorus, as Lewis' feelings grow stronger. A top single that's one of the top 5 on this album.
Track 5 - Change: Starts off at a steady pace with calm acoustics and an expression in lyrics upto the chorus. Then, it moves from 'balladic' to more 'metallic'. Along with powerull vocals from Aaron Lewis. You may not think too much of this song at first, but when the chorus kicks in you'll start to feel more of what this song's all about. Having to adjust to changes and familliar feelings.
Track 6 - Can't Believe: Aaron Lewis kicks off the acoustic intro with powerfull vocals, almost growling 'Slipknot style' for "Respect". That's pretty much how the rest of this track goes. With one or two acoustic solos in between verses. And brilliant solos from electric guitars which really help to keep the strong feel in this song. You'll like this track if you like anything slightly 'metallic', but not particularly if you're more of a 'ballad' fan.
Track 7 - Epiphany: This is a constant ballad where Lewis tries to reveal his true feelings of how he sees himself, and what he sees around himself. A much slower, pace than previous songs. With well thought out creative lyrics, produced well by Lewis, giving off his emotions and feelings with each note he hits. You may find this track too boring, comopared to others on this album, definitley if you're a music lover of the metal kind.
Track 8 - Suffer: More powerfull vocals from Lewis with strong guitar rifts. Together giving a darker mood to the track. Which lightens up in the chorus when you "come to find everthing's O.K." in the way this song pulls together. This isn't a song you can listen to over and over again, without tiring of. The chorus really brings the track back to life, aswell as the last verse. A good track, but one you may tire of.
Track 9 - Warm Safe Place: Starts off slow, but then picks up with well planned guitar rifts. Emotionally expressed verses with a chorus that is a slight step up. The chorus one of the best on the album. When both read and heard. The later verses also bring the trsck's standard up, and compare well with the chorus. You'll like this track if you like a less heavier sense of metal, with the added mix of a ballad.
Track 10 - For You: Good intro that works well to bring in the first chorus. "The silence gets us no-where" but this track goes everywhere, up and down. Great build up to the last chorus, which is possibly the best part of this track. It'll be quite a while before you tire from this song.
Track 11 - Outside: Claimed by many to be the best song on the album. Partially as it was the first song many of us heard here in the U.K., in a live recording with Fred Durst. It's also the third (and latest) single to be released from this top album, and a week or two ago.
This is a real contender for 'Acoustics Of The Year', if there is such an award? They are brilliant!! Defintley some of the best you'll hear for this year an the next! And with electric guitars added to the chorus, with great vocals (again!) this is one song that'll stick inyour head forever. Aaron Lewis' vocals are especially brilliant in the last verse. The lyrical content is all about feeling left out, and not being able to fit in. Something i'm sure everyone's felt before! This is possibly the best track on the album, and was mine, untill I heard 'Pressure'!
Track 12 - Waste: An intro of beats and acoustics (works well again), leading into a strong first verse of onces again, vocals of the highest quality, giving a top of the range effect! The last verse is simply stunning! Not just because of the number of times lewis and his back-up (that I think sounds like Fred Durst??) use the 'F' word, but mainly because of how well the strong guitar rifts work exceptionally alongside. This is a track you'll like to repeat and one you cannot forget.
Track 13 - Take It: This is the last studio-recorded track on the album, but not the worst. It starts off with an intro that sounds similar to a Marilyn Manson song (possibly 'Rock Is Dead'). This then leads into simple lyrics by Lewis, leading into the first chorus. The lyrics of this song mainly are from Lewis trying to display himself as something special to women (mainly in the chorus). But the verses are abouthow bad he feels and can't make his problems go away. This is a good track, but could be claimed as too short. I don't think the ending goes to well compared to the rest of the song. It seems like it just 'cuts it off too soon', and should be something the drags on for slightly longer. But I don't see why you shouldn't enjoy this album.
Track 14 - Outside (LIVE!): This live recording from the familly values tour features the additional vocals of Fred Durst, with Aaron Lewis providing both acoustic rifts and the main vocals. While the rest of the band take a breake from the live tour.
This isn't too different to the studio-recorded version, except for the additon of Durst, and there are no drum beats or electric guitar rifts to support in the chorus. This is probaably the first song ever heard by people in the U.K.,as it appeared on TV a while before the album release. But it wasn't released as a single untill only recently. This is a song that shows you the true potential of Staind, and how hard they work live. You really have to hear it to believe it!!
So there you go, Staind - Break The Cycle. It's definitley worth every penny. It may not suit fans of 'pop' music, and definitley isn't for dance fans! Neither is it suitable for fans of something 'nice and happy', as this album is also known as a 'depression'? To love this, you'll be a regular listener to the 'not so heavy' metal, and power ballads. But this is a masterpiece from America.
My rating: 98% This is a good Stain on the music world!!
They've been huge in the U.S. for quite some time, and have previously toured with Limp Bizkit, Korn, Kid Rock (the artist, not the poster on the site!) and Incubus, to name as a few, in America. They came to the U.K. for their first visit earlier this year, and failed hugely to dissapoint. 'Break The Cycle' is the only album released in U.K. stores, with 'Tormented' and 'Dysfunction' available by order ONLY. Unless you live in the U.S.
So, here's how 'Break The Cycle' wil make you sit up and recognise 'Staind'...
No nonsense and no Intro for this lot. The album goes straight into Track 1 with a blast!!
Track 1 - Open Your Eyes: With an intro that 'explodes' into the nu-metal that helped Staind reach no.1 spot after the release of this album in the US Bilboard Charts. Great guitar rifts, and rhythms that help this track kick start the album with a strong effect. More albums need an 'explosive' track like this to really make you sit-up and listento the music, just like the title says: 'Open you Eyes'. One thing you shouldn't do is "take everything for granted like you do", especially with 'Break The Cycle'. This track WILL make you 'Open Your Eyes'!
Track 2 - Pressure: Follows on from Track 1 well, with an even stronger rhythm of electric guitars. Also showing the true power of Aaron Lewis' vocals!! This is a song that sounds how you feel under pressure. Like how you "can't take this" and come unglued", "drowning in this" with "too much pressure". Lyrics that describe all feelings felt when you feel pressure in your life!! The content of this song is about 'exactly' what the title says. This is currently my favourite track on the album, and I think it would make a great single in the near future!
Track 3 - Fade: Their second single released in the U.K. 'Fade' is all about staying/being how/what you want to be, and when you want to be it. Not being different or feeling left out as "Everything else just stays the same", and how you want to "Express how" you "felt" during the changes in your life when no-one's ever there for you. Not one of the more 'heavier' metal songs, and quite 'balladic' in the main verses. A strong intro and chorus helped to make 'Fade' a top single.
Track 4 - It's Been A While: This was Staind's first U.K. single release, earlier this year. It's a radio fiendly balladic, love-themed song (apart from some lyrical content). Aaron Lewis expresses how he feels about a former loved one, even after time apart. Lewis tries to explain how he's changed from 'f'-ing things up, just like he always did'. With "I'm sorry" added right at the end, like signing off at the end of a love letter. This is a song that'll stick in you're head, and one you'l never tire of hearing. Good acoustics and vocals from Lewis, with an effective use of electric guitar in the chorus, as Lewis' feelings grow stronger. A top single that's one of the top 5 on this album.
Track 5 - Change: Starts off at a steady pace with calm acoustics and an expression in lyrics upto the chorus. Then, it moves from 'balladic' to more 'metallic'. Along with powerull vocals from Aaron Lewis. You may not think too much of this song at first, but when the chorus kicks in you'll start to feel more of what this song's all about. Having to adjust to changes and familliar feelings.
Track 6 - Can't Believe: Aaron Lewis kicks off the acoustic intro with powerfull vocals, almost growling 'Slipknot style' for "Respect". That's pretty much how the rest of this track goes. With one or two acoustic solos in between verses. And brilliant solos from electric guitars which really help to keep the strong feel in this song. You'll like this track if you like anything slightly 'metallic', but not particularly if you're more of a 'ballad' fan.
Track 7 - Epiphany: This is a constant ballad where Lewis tries to reveal his true feelings of how he sees himself, and what he sees around himself. A much slower, pace than previous songs. With well thought out creative lyrics, produced well by Lewis, giving off his emotions and feelings with each note he hits. You may find this track too boring, comopared to others on this album, definitley if you're a music lover of the metal kind.
Track 8 - Suffer: More powerfull vocals from Lewis with strong guitar rifts. Together giving a darker mood to the track. Which lightens up in the chorus when you "come to find everthing's O.K." in the way this song pulls together. This isn't a song you can listen to over and over again, without tiring of. The chorus really brings the track back to life, aswell as the last verse. A good track, but one you may tire of.
Track 9 - Warm Safe Place: Starts off slow, but then picks up with well planned guitar rifts. Emotionally expressed verses with a chorus that is a slight step up. The chorus one of the best on the album. When both read and heard. The later verses also bring the trsck's standard up, and compare well with the chorus. You'll like this track if you like a less heavier sense of metal, with the added mix of a ballad.
Track 10 - For You: Good intro that works well to bring in the first chorus. "The silence gets us no-where" but this track goes everywhere, up and down. Great build up to the last chorus, which is possibly the best part of this track. It'll be quite a while before you tire from this song.
Track 11 - Outside: Claimed by many to be the best song on the album. Partially as it was the first song many of us heard here in the U.K., in a live recording with Fred Durst. It's also the third (and latest) single to be released from this top album, and a week or two ago.
This is a real contender for 'Acoustics Of The Year', if there is such an award? They are brilliant!! Defintley some of the best you'll hear for this year an the next! And with electric guitars added to the chorus, with great vocals (again!) this is one song that'll stick inyour head forever. Aaron Lewis' vocals are especially brilliant in the last verse. The lyrical content is all about feeling left out, and not being able to fit in. Something i'm sure everyone's felt before! This is possibly the best track on the album, and was mine, untill I heard 'Pressure'!
Track 12 - Waste: An intro of beats and acoustics (works well again), leading into a strong first verse of onces again, vocals of the highest quality, giving a top of the range effect! The last verse is simply stunning! Not just because of the number of times lewis and his back-up (that I think sounds like Fred Durst??) use the 'F' word, but mainly because of how well the strong guitar rifts work exceptionally alongside. This is a track you'll like to repeat and one you cannot forget.
Track 13 - Take It: This is the last studio-recorded track on the album, but not the worst. It starts off with an intro that sounds similar to a Marilyn Manson song (possibly 'Rock Is Dead'). This then leads into simple lyrics by Lewis, leading into the first chorus. The lyrics of this song mainly are from Lewis trying to display himself as something special to women (mainly in the chorus). But the verses are abouthow bad he feels and can't make his problems go away. This is a good track, but could be claimed as too short. I don't think the ending goes to well compared to the rest of the song. It seems like it just 'cuts it off too soon', and should be something the drags on for slightly longer. But I don't see why you shouldn't enjoy this album.
Track 14 - Outside (LIVE!): This live recording from the familly values tour features the additional vocals of Fred Durst, with Aaron Lewis providing both acoustic rifts and the main vocals. While the rest of the band take a breake from the live tour.
This isn't too different to the studio-recorded version, except for the additon of Durst, and there are no drum beats or electric guitar rifts to support in the chorus. This is probaably the first song ever heard by people in the U.K.,as it appeared on TV a while before the album release. But it wasn't released as a single untill only recently. This is a song that shows you the true potential of Staind, and how hard they work live. You really have to hear it to believe it!!
So there you go, Staind - Break The Cycle. It's definitley worth every penny. It may not suit fans of 'pop' music, and definitley isn't for dance fans! Neither is it suitable for fans of something 'nice and happy', as this album is also known as a 'depression'? To love this, you'll be a regular listener to the 'not so heavy' metal, and power ballads. But this is a masterpiece from America.
My rating: 98% This is a good Stain on the music world!!
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