Creed - Weathered
Updated: 3 days ago
A Sneak Peek...
On November 20, 2001, "Creed"'s third album "Weathered" was released, on Wind-up Records. This album is the band's final chord, even though eight years later their last album "Full Circle" was released. The band officially disbanded in 2004 - but wait, spoiler: in 2023 it announced a reunion, and in April 2024 it played its first shows in more than a decade, as part of the "Summer of '99" rock cruise.
This is the first album without bassist Brian Marshall, who was fired from the band in August 2000 after his behavior became unbearable, with Mark Tremonti assuming all bass responsibilities in the recordings. It is also the only album the band recorded as a trio. Right from the opening track you can feel that the "Texas sawmill" decided to raise the intensity and switch from a regular saw to a double-chain saw, while on the other side you can feel Scott Stapp dropping an octave or more.
Apart from standout tracks like "Bullets," showcasing Tremonti's peak performance and standing out as one of the band's most forceful songs, "One Last Breath," and the emotionally charged "My Sacrifice," the album lacks many standout or dazzling songs.
Despite this, the album went straight to number one on the Billboard 200, held the top spot for eight consecutive weeks, and sold nearly a million copies in its first week. It has since been certified six times platinum in the US for sales of more than six million copies. "My Sacrifice" reached number four and "One Last Breath" number six on the Billboard singles chart.
Let's delve into the symbolism behind the album's title and cover. The album's title, meaning erosion by weather, suggests a process of gradual wearing down over time, whether it be bone, a person, or anything else susceptible to environmental forces. This choice could reflect the state the band found itself in during the album's release — a period where internal strains and challenges were causing fractures, hinting at an impending end.
However, the album cover introduces a compelling contrast. It features the faces of the band members engraved on a tree, a symbol of strength and endurance that appears impervious to weathering. This visual paradox prompts reflection. Despite the title's connotation of erosion and decay, the image on the cover seems to defy this concept. The robust and enduring tree, with the band members' faces etched upon it, might signify resilience and the ability to weather challenges, suggesting a potential for lasting survival even in the face of internal turbulence.
In essence, the juxtaposition between the album's title and its cover creates a thought-provoking narrative, inviting listeners to contemplate the band's resilience and enduring spirit amid the perceived erosion within.
Recording began on July 20, 2001, in a home studio in Ocoee, Florida, and took four months. Stapp and Tremonti wrote a full album of material in just three weeks. The eight-minute "Who's Got My Back?", the longest song the band ever recorded, opens with a Cherokee prayer performed by musician Bo Taylor. Stapp described the album as "two records in one": heavy tracks like "Bullets" on one side, and ballads that became hits, including "My Sacrifice", on the other.
Reviews were mixed: Rolling Stone gave it three and a half stars out of five, and AllMusic two out of five.
Now put on a helmet and press play, the first song is just a ballistic missile !! Spotify, Apple Music
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