Multi-platinum rock band STAIND celebrates 25 years of their seminal 5x-Platinum third full-length offering, "Break the Cycle", with the release of a new live album entitled "Break the Cycle (25th Anniversary Live)" out August 21, 2026 via Alchemy Recordings/BMG.
The album will be available in a number of physical D2C configurations, including various exclusive vinyl variants (some which have already been sold out) and a Walmart exclusive CD/DVD package.
In anticipation of the album the band is set to release their second single, “Fade - Live” on Thursday July 23rd. “Fade- Live” follows the initial single off the Live album “It’s Been Awhile - Live” which was released this June and has already racked up over half a million listens and views across all DSPs.
"Break the Cycle (25th Anniversary Live)" marked the first-ever playthrough of "Break the Cycle" top-to-bottom. In the midst of the pandemic, STAIND performed the album from beginning to end at an empty warehouse in Holyoke, MA, steps from where they formed in Springfield back in 1995. For a special fan livestream, they channeled the original spirit of the record amplified with the energy and experience of 25 years on the road, giving "Break the Cycle" a rush of fresh blood.
Among many highlights, the show notably saw them play “Change” and recent TikTok sensation “Warm Safe Place” for the very first time. The musicians—Aaron Lewis [vocals, guitar], Mike Mushok [guitar], Johnny April [bass], and Sal Giancarelli [drums]—are firing on all cylinders throughout the 12-track set.
The second single off the Live album “Fade” was a success for the band, peaking at numbers three and four on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts respectively. Rolling Stone described the song as having heavy, minor key guitar riffs of nu metal but that Lewis’ dramatic vocal delivery made the music more like alternative metal. Spin, in its dedicated song review, praised the song for being “another moody well-crafted ballad by the band.”
Lyrically the song is often described as being about parental neglect, with Lewis feeling as if he had no one to talk to as a child growing up. The songs popularity was also met with a music video that features clips of a child witnessing his parents spiral into violent confrontations while the band performs in front of a large pendulum inside a clock tower.
Vocalist and guitarist Aaron Lewis says of the single “Fade-Live”, “If I remember correctly Fade is a song that I had started before “Break The Cycle”. Then we completed it for the record. I certainly put how I feel out there on that song and the whole album for that matter”.
Guitarist Mike Mushok said, “When we were working on “Dysfunction”, there was actually a little piece of Fade floating around. It might have been the verse. At the time, I use to tape everything on cassette. When it came to the part of “Fade”, I know we were all unanimously like we’ve got to go back to that. Aaron came up with this melody for the song and I loved it. During the break the cycle sessions I worked up more music to it, played Aaron what he had done before and we finished it. I have always liked that song. It’s one of my favorites. The clock on screen during our past couple of tours reminds me of the clock from the Fade video too. We have played the song a lot and it was great to play Fade for this.”
Looking back, “Break The Cycle” originally landed on May 8, 2001. It vaulted to #1 on the Billboard 200, taking flight as the first of three #1 debuts on the respective chart for STAIND. The guys appeared on covers including Rolling Stone, among various other publications. However, the album’s true legacy is its connection with millions of fans worldwide. Long before mental health was a regular topic of conversation, STAIND unraveled the complexities and conflicts of anxiety and anguish on “Break The Cycle” , facing family trauma head-on, overcoming doubt, and showing that it’s still possible to find light and beauty beneath all of the scars.
Get the Fade Live:
https://staind.lnk.to/FadeLive
Get the Break The Cycle (25th Anniversary Live):
https://staind.lnk.to/BTCLive
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