Music review: Scott Stapp — ‘Proof of Life’
The aptly titled new release from Scott Stapp is a soul-searching testimony about the artist鈥檚 past and rediscovered musical rebirth.
鈥淧roof of Life鈥� follows Stapp鈥檚 2005 solo debut album 鈥淭he Great Divide.鈥�
The Grammy Award-winning singer and former Creed frontman has sold nearly 30 million albums fueled by Creed鈥檚 success before the band disbanded in 2004.
Stapp went on to pursue his musical talents alone, while his former bandmates continued on as Alter Bridge.
The songs for the new album were inspired by Stapp鈥檚 2012 uncensored memoir 鈥淪inner鈥檚 Creed.鈥� In the book, Stapp details his abusive childhood, battle with addiction and his renewed faith.
On the album鈥檚 first single, 鈥淪low Suicide,鈥� Stapp admits to his many shortcomings and digressions by declaring, 鈥淚鈥檓 just human.鈥�
鈥淗it Me More鈥� is a hard-driving rocker that illustrates Stapp鈥檚 perseverance and ultimate triumph as he proclaims, 鈥淲ent through hell to find my heaven.鈥� Redemption is a reoccurring theme of the new material as witnessed on the inspiring 鈥淣ew Day Coming鈥� with its touch of pop flavoring and uplifting message.
Produced by Howard Benson (Third Day, Skillet and Daughtry) and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge (Paramore, Third Eye Blind and Rise Against), 鈥淧roof of Life鈥� still carries the classic Creed sound as Stapp confidently displays his maturity and renewed passion for setting his engaging messages to music.
The melodic texture and emotional vulnerability of 鈥淐rash鈥� is another of the album鈥檚 standouts, summing up Stapp鈥檚 meteoric rise, dark free fall and life-saving rehabilitation.
With 鈥淧roof of Life,鈥� Stapp seems to be finally free from his own personal prison as he confidently sings, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a new beginning/I got so much more to say,鈥� on the closer 鈥淒ying to Live.鈥� Stapp鈥檚 story is truly powerful stuff, making 鈥淧roof of Life鈥� an intriguingly entertaining listen from a rock star that has been there and done that.