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STAIND never lose sight of where they came from.

Long before the number one records, multiplatinum plaques, sold-out arenas, billions of streams, and social media virality, the musicians tirelessly cut their teeth, sharpened their skills, and shed blood, sweat, and tears during countless gigs in basements, bars, busted-up clubs, and run-down old theaters around the Northeast. Prior to the turn of the century, the band clawed their way out of Springfield, MA on their own terms, tapping into a heaviness as unforgiving as a New England winter, delivering hooks that caress through catharsis, and sharing emotion as delicate as an exposed nerve. When you peel back the layers of baritone riffing, earthquaking rhythms, and piercing screams, there was always hope left in the lyrics (which have inspired fan tattoos for three decades and counting).

As they continue to push forward, the quartet—Aaron Lewis [vocals, guitar], Mike Mushok [guitar], Johnny April [bass], and Sal Giancarelli [drums]—took a breath and celebrated a seminal moment with 2026’s Break the Cycle (Live) [Alchemy Recordings/BMG]. Recorded in a Holyoke, MA warehouse mid-Pandemic, this special release captured STAIND as they played through the entirety of their landmark 2001 LP, Break the Cycle, for the very first time.

“Our first gig ever was at this venue called The Waterfront in Holyoke,” recalls Mike. “Doing Break The Cycle (Live) in that town definitely brought us full circle. It stirred up a lot of memories of how we started. It was really cool to be able to play this whole record, revisit that time, and relive what it was. Hopefully, the energy comes across, and people are able to hear what the experience was like for us.”

“There was some reminiscing,” adds Aaron. “It was a bit surreal. I don’t even know if it has entirely clicked for me yet. Going back and thinking of it though, we could see the area, the clubs, and the beginning of it all.”

From day one, STAIND’s sound was alternately crushing and comforting. They absorbed the teeth-kicking intensity of groove metal, the melodic grit of grunge, and the diaristic approach of dyed-in-the-wool singer-songwriters into a dynamic signature style, striking a chord with successive generations of listeners. To date, they have sold over 15 million records worldwide fueled by the 2x-Platinum Dysfunction [1999], 5x-Platinum Break the Cycle [2001], Platinum 14 Shades of Grey [2003], and Platinum Chapter V [2005]. Along the way, they earned five straight Top 5 debuts on the Billboard 200, including three consecutive #1 entries. Not to mention, “It’s Been A While” logged a staggering 20 weeks at #1 on airwaves, making it “one of the most-played songs in modern rock radio history.” After twelve years without a new album, they returned with a bang, sending Confessions Of The Fallen to #1 on the Billboard Top Active Rock Albums Chart in 2023 and spawning Active Rock Radio #1 hits “Lowest In Me” and “Here And Now.” Speaking to their versatility, they’ve notably collaborated on tracks with everyone from Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit to Snoop Dogg and Dorothy.

However, 2026 saw the unexpected beginning of a renaissance for STAIND when the Break the Cycle deep cut “Warm Safe Place” surged on TikTok. Resonating with a new era, the song organically incited tens of thousands of fan-made videos with many clips focused on the line, “A road that never lets me sleep, there’s no way to escape, these demons I am forced to keep.” Break the Cycle (Live) notably marked the first performance of “Warm Safe Place.”

“It’s funny because I’m pretty sure it was the first song that we originally wrote for Break the Cycle,” recalls Mike. “I used to tape everything on cassette, and there was a piece of the ‘Warm Safe Place’ verse kicking around back when we were making Dysfunction. We all agreed, ‘We’ve got to go back to that little piece’. I loved the melody, and I worked up some more music to it. I played it for Aaron, and we got ‘Warm Safe Place’ together while we were rehearsing in my basement back in Springfield.”

“It’s surprising, but it’s very cool how the song has exploded,” smiles Aaron. “The resurgence is especially weird because there was never a ‘surge’ in the first place. It was never a proper single. It was one of the songs that you only got if you bought the whole Break the Cycle record. Lyrically, I mean I certainly put it out there on that one. I guess we have no choice but to play it live these days too!”

Speaking of rarities, Break the Cycle (Live) houses the very first live rendition of “Change.” Mike’s guitar charges out of the gate behind a pummeling drum roll as Aaron’s voice seesaws between a punchy chorus and heartfelt bridge.

“We’ve always done heavy and soft songs,” Mike goes on. “I love a lot of super heavy albums, but it’s nice when there’s a break and the music takes you somewhere else. So, we consistently try to do that. I think it comes through on Break the Cycle and a song like ‘Change’. It’s crazy to think we’d never played it live until this version.”

Fittingly, STAIND introduced Break the Cycle (Live) with the 2026 version of “It’s Been A While.” The instantly recognizable guitar melody gives way to the unforgettable refrain carried with no shortage of emotion on this particular performance. “I don’t ever get tired of playing these songs,” says Mike. “They get a response, and it’s always fun to play ‘It’s Been A While,’ ‘For You,’ and ‘Fade’.”

“‘It’s Been A While’ was a song that started before STAIND,” Aaron adds. “I’ve had it for a long time in different versions, and we finally finished it for Break the Cycle. It’s obviously a big part of it and us now.”

Looking back, STAIND recorded the bulk of Break the Cycle at NRG Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Working with producer Josh Abraham [Linkin Park, Weezer, Slayer], the band refined their approach from Dysfunction. On one hand, “Can’t Believe” unleashed Aaron’s arguably most vitriolic vocals yet recorded, “Pressure” seethed with anxious riffing and an outpour of stress, and the finale “Take It” fractured a wall of chugging to distortion to let the light back in. On the other hand, “Epiphany” paired a vulnerable confessional with naked acoustic guitar, and “It’s Been A While” and “Outside” brought the group hard-earned global renown. It would be STAIND’s first #1 album on the Billboard 200, landed them on the cover of Rolling Stone, and sold over 5 million copies in the United States alone. In retrospect, the Garza Podcast cited Mike as the “most underrated nu metal guitar player,” and Rock Feed hailed Aaron as “one of my favorite vocalists ever.”

Between Break the Cycle (Live), the massive Break The Cycle 25th Anniversary Tour, and whispers of new music, STAIND are here to stay.

“The anniversary makes me feel older than I am,” Mike leaves off with a laugh. “We all love Aerosmith. I remember doing interviews around Break the Cycle and thinking, ‘Will we be doing this when we’re their age?’ And here we are! I’m very thankful STAIND is playing again, making music, and people still want to see and experience what we do. I’m happy they care.”

“I hope the songs translate the same way they did when it was first released,” Aaron closes out. “I hope there’s room in the landscape of the universe for us to still do what we do. That’s all I could ever ask for. As much as I’ve been through in my life, God has been very good to me. I’ve had the most amazing fucking run at this, and I did it my way. I’m very blessed—we all are.” — Rick Florino, June 2026