Staind return with new album, The Illusion Of Progress

Staind use their illusion
Staind use their illusion

Multi-platinum band Staind have announced the much-anticipated release of The Illusion Of Progress (Flip/Atlantic), available August 19. The first single, Believe, hits radio and iTunes today, June 24.

The Illusion Of Progress marks Staind's sixth studio album and is the follow-up to 2005's RIAA platinum-certified Chapter V. The Illusion Of Progress was produced by Johnny K and recorded in the home studio of Staind vocalist Aaron Lewis, with the original band lineup, including Mike Mushok (guitar), Jon Wysocki (drums, percussion), and Johnny April (bass, vocals). The band call the new project their "most musical CD," and even treated their fans to a series of intimate, behind-the-scenes "webisodes" posted on staind.com, documenting their recording process.

"We went into the studio with the mindset of making our heaviest record yet," says frontman Aaron Lewis, "but the record that came out has flavors of Pink Floyd and straight-up blues. We didn't use the same rigs that we use onstage; we used all vintage guitars and amps, and I'm pretty psyched about it! The songs are pretty timeless in their texture."

Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar WorldGuitar PlayerMusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.