Human Clay

Although the classic Anthemic Chorus appears to be their trademark, they veer off down the odd leafy path of bare, melancholic, balladish intros, most notably on 'Wash Away Those Years'. The new single 'With Arms Wide Open' is a powerful, heavy number, with tons of guitar, and a deep, smooth vocal courtesy of baritone singer Scott Stapp (even if it is a little dija-vu lyrics wise). 'Higher' is a rather melodic number, boasting a couple of hard, chunky riffs and another one of those Anthemic Choruses, not to mention copious amounts of singalong/air guitar aptitude.

In fact, Creed are far from nu-metal, swapping the Fred Durst squeals so synonymous with contemporary chart rap/rock for a more old skool feel - think leather trousers. But what might have been passed over as mediocre in the late eighties/early nineties has been given a fresh lease of life in a genre so heavily dominated by the red baseball cap and a pair of shanks.

In a nutshell, Creed are one of those love/hate bands. If you're a fan of good rock'n'roll, Creed are for you however, if you're expecting this album to convert you, don't hold your whammy bar.