Madness

Personnel: Scott Stapp (vocals); Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, John Votta (guitar); Vince Votta (drums).
Recording information: Bumblefoot Studios, Princeton, NJ.
Photographers: Mick Rock ; Annie Atlasman.
Scott Weiland disowned Art of Anarchy's debut upon its June 2015 release and died a few months later. Clearly, Art of Anarchy were in need of a new singer, and they found one in Scott Stapp. The former Creed singer hadn't been up to much since 2013, when he released his second solo album, Proof of Life, and he was a good match for the Y2K metallic grind the Votta brothers, Bumblefoot, and John Moyer crank out. Without Weiland, Art of Anarchy aren't as melodic as they were back in 2015, but his ghost can be felt on the almost psychedelic "1000 Degrees" and the slow churn of "Somber." Elsewhere, Stapp makes his presence felt via power ballads -- "No Surrender" could've slid onto a Creed album at the dawn of the 2000s -- and throwing himself into rockers designed for stadiums but destined to be heard in clubs. All this adds up to a record that's much like the band's debut: a confident, brawny, professional hard rock record that doesn't pander to trends and stays true to the group's alt-metal roots. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine