PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
It’s been a messy few years for Stone Temple Pilots since their last self-titled album in 2010. An apparently acrimonious split from Scott Weiland looked to have sent the band into limbo but thankfully it did not signal their end. Regardless of all this happening though, the remaining members have pulled in Linkin Park’s very own Chester Bennington on vocals to release five track EP High Rise that shows STP to be very much alive and kicking.
One of the front runners of grunge alongside the likes of Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and their likes, STP have matured evidently from this offering into a middle of the road hard rock band. That may sound slightly disparaging to them but to a middle aged rocker and metalhead such as myself that’s no bad thing at all.
Stone Temple Pilots’ measured and assured sounds are more akin to the kind of tunes you would cruise along to on the road on this EP. They come racing out of the blocks with Out of Time that introduces us straight away to the perfect synergy they have between the music and Pennington’s voice. They are a pretty damn great match it’s safe to say and it’s also great to hear his voice allied to this style of music. It’s got the right amount of rock attitude to soar when needed or grind out to drive. The opening track is probably the most ballsy on the EP and is a fine opener.
Black Heart follows with a sleazy groove that gets the feet jumping and brings in a thumping melodic chorus to boot (no pun intended) while Same on the Inside typifies the easy listening rock vibe that runs throught this EP. The closing tracks, Cry Cry and Tomorrow keep the groove going to the album’s conclusion with some great hooks, melodies and riffs that make you want to hear more.
Hopefully we’ll hear more from Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington in the near future because this little morsel has whet my appetite perfectly for it.
High Rise is released on October 5th through Spinefarm Records
Track Listing:
1. Out of Time
2. Black Heart
3. Same on the Inside
4. Cry Cry
5. Tomorrow
Stone Temple Pilots are:
Chester Bennington – Vocals
Dean DeLeo – Guitar
Robert DeLeo – Bass/Backing Vocals
Eric Kretz – Drums
LINKS:
www.stonetemplepilots.com
www.facebook.com/stpband
twitter.com/stpband
