Mellow and Metal? Staind Makes It Work

Oozing with bittersweet choruses and restless guitar riffs, the second album from the melodic Boston metallers (in stores Tuesday) is surprisingly exhilarating, considering its dark, angst-filled themes. Best known for the pounding rock-radio hit “Mudshovel,” from its major-label debut, “Dysfunction,” and more recently the tortured ode “Outside” (with Fred Durst on backup vocals) from the Family Values Tour live album, the band delves deeper into the downbeat songwriting that made “Outside” so powerful.

There’s a studio version of that acoustic hit here, and while it’s an effectively angry, ironically pretty piece, it lacks the raw simplicity and emotion of the live cut. More evocative of the grief-filled punch the band is capable of, the current single “It’s Been Awhile” combines sparkling guitars with remorseful, lovelorn lyrics and an undeniably memorable melody.

Aaron Lewis has one of the most expressive voices in modern metal, and the CD’s mix of harmonious and heavy complements his passionate croons perfectly. Staind’s more raucous tunes aren’t as intense as the mellower ones, but if they keep writing the kind of bold ballads that dominate here, they’ll easily stand out among more chaotic peers.

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