| The fifth album from Staind sees this Fred Durst-sponsored New England post-grunge quartet continue to delve the depths of their tortured psyche with Biblical seriousness: quite literally, in fact, in the case of "Paper Jesus", "Cross To Bear", and "Devil" - a suite of songs which suggest that, for vocalist Aaron Lewis, working through his issues is something of a gruelling spiritual struggle. To date, it's a formula that hasn't always washed with UK audiences, who tend to prefer their angst expressed with slightly less scab-picking seriousness. Chapter V, however, tones down the acoustic edge in favour of a few more robust rockers: the opening "Run Away" balances its rather mordant verses with dynamic moments of clanging hard-rock reminiscent of Papa Roach, while the aforementioned "Paper Jesus" showcases a band not afraid to lay on the chug now and again. It's true that Pearl Jam fans may well get off on the brooding grunge soul of "Schizophrenic Conversations" and "Please", but in general Chapter V is the sort of solid but conventional fare that should only really trouble fans of the genre --Louis Pattison |
