Wow. Getting to the top is easy for some people. Staying there is the hard part. That doesn't seem to be the case for Staind. Aaron Lewis and company have churned out another excellent disc. While I think their last one, 14 Shades of Grey wasn't quite up to the awesome might of Break The Cycle, it still was pretty darn good.With Chapter V, the band continues their mix of the ballad-y type songs and some of the harder rockers. "Run Away" shows off the compelling vocals of Lewis, as the band knows how to shape dynamics into a circuit of aural pleasures. The single "Right Here" is as good as anything the band has ever done. The guitar line draws you right in during the awesome verses which are actually better than the chorus which is great in its own right. Lewis knows how to push the buttons just by changing a few notes on each line in the verse to make it stand out.
The band crunches down a bit for "Paper Jesus" with a punishing guitar tandem, and a vocal during the verses that is reminiscent of Alice In Chains. "Schizophrenic Conversations" is a beautiful song that shimmers in its excellence. "Falling" is the fifth straight great cut in a row. The lyrics seem to point a finger at those who like to dwell in their own misery. "I already to you that falling is easy, It's getting back up that becomes the problem. If you don't believe you can find a way out, You become the problem."
"Please" is a freakin' monster track, possibly the best on the record. It's comprised of the bitter lyrics that we're accustomed to from Lewis. The melody lines are simple but guaranteed to stick in your ears for awhile. "Everything Changes" is a welcome side step that is one part campfire song, and another marriage counseling transcript.
On and on it goes. The record is one long stream of brilliance. While not all the cuts have the instant commercial flavour of Break the Cycle, there is no denying the listenability of the entire set. There is virtually no weak spot on this record. In fact, you might say the band is Staind with greatness.