Creed’s’ latest effort doesn’t make it full circle, Creed is back trying to make a comeback with their fourth album entitled ‘Full Circle’ this comes after the band broke up and spent time apart pursuing other projects and the results show in the music.

During their time apart, lead singer Scott Stapp pursued a solo career but personal problems and sloppy production led to minimal recognition or success. Stapp’s band mates on the other hand had better luck. Guitarist Mark Tremonti, drummer Scott Phillips and bassist Brian Marshall got together to form Alter Bridge. A heavy metal grunge band reminiscent of Metallica’s early beginnings, the band quickly received recognition by the music world and fans alike but quickly fizzled out and lacked sustainability. With their record company pushing for a Creed reunion and Stapp now on the straight and narrow Creed was set to reunite and release their 4^th album as a band.

Now that all the members are back together, they seem hungry and focused ready to reemerge themselves back on to the music scene. However, judging by their past and this album, it may be too little too late.

The band has decided to reinvent their sound and image but it doesn’t work it’s too contrived and forced.  As far as the music is concerned Tremonti, Phillips and Marshall’s skills are up to par and their experimentation as Alter Bridge has strengthened and increased their musical repertoire and technique but does little to save the album. What made Creed so definable and recognizable was lead singer Scott Stapp’s distinctive voice, which is need in of some vocal coaching. The album opens with “Overcome” the first single off the album. “Overcome” fans of the band won’t be. It’s opens with a bang, due to Tremonti’s heavy, crunchy guitar and gives a memorable solo but Stapp’s voice leaves much to be desired. There’s an inconsistency in his voice and the vocals sound a bit exaggerated.  “ Bread of Shame” is just that a disaster, if Korn and Metallica wrote a song together this would be the one. With maximum distortion a sound that’s overly produced it’s another episode of the “loudness wars” and contains much of the problems that concerned Metallica’s “Death Magnetic”.  However, the album does have some honorable mentions, which include “ A Thousand Faces” and “Time”.

“ A Thousand Faces” is possibly the best song on the album and the one that sounds the most like the Creed we knew and loved.  The song has a great melody is pleasing to the ears and a memorable riff. Stapp does better with the ballads “With Arms Wide Open” need I say more.  “ Time” is another must listen to tune on the album.

“Time” is a darker more introspective and reflective piece for the band. It’s a ballad that includes stunning lyrics and guitar riffs. Long and bluesy it’s definitely worth a listen for Tremonti’s solo alone.

This is the weakest Creed album to date, and if anything saves it, it is the skill of Stapp’s band mates who probably would have been better off releasing another album as Alter Bridge on their own because nothing on this album comes “Full Circle”.