Album Review

Creed – Full Circle

• 15th Nov 2009

It may be getting a little confusing, as Alice In Chains are now firmly back on the scene and a Live DVD of Nirvana’s seminal performance at Reading in 1992 has just been released. Yet it could all be signalling the fact that an old skool grunge revival is appearing out of post-grunge’s shadow? Although, much of the fuel proposition for this is probably due to this delving and rugged twelve track twister that represents Creed’s first album since 2001.

The original line up all contributes in their own significant way. Scott Strapp’s vocal pounce leaps out of ‘Bread Of Shame’, as he bounces off the trudging percussion of Scott Philipps and a high profile guitar grind, before adopting an Eddie Vedder veined lob. It builds up the heartache, leading up to a mincing chorus that he performs with a dusky edge.

Despite half a decade apart, the band still has that deep understanding of each other’s ability to be able to explore their full range of old. For power ballad, ‘AThousand Faces’, their morbid and reflective, almost epic mood building ability is as noticeable as it has ever been.

Tempo switching still features prominently in a Creed album. The creepy touch of ‘Suddenly’ draws out their rhythm building touch and bedraggled lyrical edge;

“You will submit… You will give in. Suddenly… I have no strength at all… So suddenly hit with all I’ve lost.”

Of course an album of this rugged cut, needs a soothingly simply saunter that speaks of positivity and it is littered with hope. In ‘Away In Silence’, Creed nails this task, as Strapp’s quite tender (for him anyway) verses embolden the impact of the pleading chorus, where he ekes out desperation, yet retains a certain amount of dignity.

Creed continues where they left off in the drawn out, wandering build up stakes and in paying attention to lyrical detail, as well as striking instrumental switches that match the growing feeling of the vocals, ‘On My Sleeve’.

However, it is ‘Good Fight’ that sums up the Creed spirit, through a forlorn vocal echo, spindling guitar licks and tempo turning percussion. Low-key, winding interludes slowly builds up the heartache in preparation for the determined and defiant chorus. Creed continues to pledge to ‘Fight The Good Fight’. With this album they have certainly landed another good punch.