Only Through the Pain - Dark Publications

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Album Description
On their third studio album platinum rockers Trapt have not only returned to form but shattered expectations of what a rock disc can be. With Only Through The Pain, the Northern California-reared, L.A. based band returned to Co-Producer Gggarth Richardson's Vancouver studio to rekindle the magic that helped propel its 2002 eponymous debut past two million in sales. The end result is a disc that's as heartfelt and ingenious as it is diverse and seamlessly rewarding. From the riff-roaring, high energy anthem 'Wasteland' to the deeply moving finale 'The Last Tear', the eleven-song follow up to Trapt's 2005's gold-certified Someone In Control again finds front man, guitarist and principal songwriter Chris Taylor Brown going deep.

Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

More Echoing. August 5, 2008
9 out of 14 found this review helpful

Despite being the first album recorded since the departure of founding guitarist Simon Ormandy and without a push from a major record label, Trapt's latest effort doesn't mark much of a change. To be honest, they're only doing what they are best at: delivering hooky radio-rock with massive choruses and solid musicianship. "Only Through The Pain," the follow-up to 2005's "Someone In Control," seems to recognize that the band is best when sticking to a formula and exploits that. As a result, each of the eleven tracks presented has as much of a chance at blowing up on the radio as the one preceeding it.

Whereas "Someone In Control" was mired with mostly bland, middle-of-the-road rock, "Only Through The Pain" puts the pop back in Trapt's sound that made their self-titled effort such a hit over half a decade ago. To put it bluntly, this would have given them the successful second album they so badly needed but did not get three years ago. Now, I know what you're thinking: Trapt are still churning out heavy pop-rock and that's a good thing? Yes, it is. If you can bring yourself to admit that you still put on the self-titled album from time to time, you will find "Only Through The Pain" to be yet another solid listen. Chris Brown (not to be confused with the Michael Jackson wanna-be) sure knows his way around a melody and regardless of how predictable the songs get, the band can actually play their instruments well.

For the most part, the songs are what you have come to expect from Trapt at this point. "Wasteland," "Contagious" and the first single, "Who's Going Home With You Tonight?" are pretty standard fare for the band, and are complimented well by the obligatory ballads "Ready When You Are" and "Black Rose," the latter of which features a somewhat awkward line: "You were always where the sun could never go." Eh? Well, despite the predictability, the band does pull out a wild card with "Forget About The Rain." With a bit of reggae flavor, it is by far the strongest song in the set and, at the very least, shows they aren't just a one-trick pony. "Cover Up," on the other hand, vies to be the next "Headstrong" and fails. It's typical Trapt, really. Sounding hard on the surface, but nothing overly threatening or with bite. Having said that, "Only Through The Pain" is everything you expect a Trapt album to be. Whether it's good or bad it all up to taste, but if you had a taste for the band before, you'll be satisfied with this album.

5 out of 5 stars

Only Through the Pain - BEST YET August 5, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Trapt is the most amazing band. There is no band that comes close to what they do. They are hard to describe well to someone who hasn't heard their sound, so I say emogrunge for lack of a better account.

A good band goes through certain stages, and the trend while young is usually that they just keep getting better (until the band starts peaking).

Trapt's is not like most bands' evolutions.

They are no longer a young band or young musicians, and this album makes it clear that their growth has not diminished a bit. Trapt just keeps getting better and this album shows it.

Only Through the Pain - solidifies for me the fact that Trapt's growth continues (perhaps has not even slowed).

The originality, sound quality (from all four band members), the content, and just the band's overall musical depth and breadth are quite amazing.

I am sure this album will take me places in my heart and head that I did not know existed.

Although Trapt albums take me months of daily listening experience to fully appreciate, I would say that this album is as good as Someone in Control which has been my favorite album for over two years.

The bottom line: These guys are serious rock musicians and serious about creating beautiful and powerful works of temporal art, and this album shows this as well or better than any previous works.

3 out of 5 stars

OVER-passionate, Toughen up!---PLEASE August 6, 2008
2 out of 7 found this review helpful

I have their 1st CD and I'd give it 5 Stars, then their second CD I would also give 5 Stars. This CD is a solid 3 Stars (not even 3 1/2). I've seen then here in Dallas twice for each tour and they were Excellent.... now I doubt I'd go see them again.

Their songs have always had a lot of passion and emotion with punch. But this CD is over done with the soft passages sounding like he's going to break down and cry. Not much intensity and the love and affection is over emphasized and gets old.

What bothers me on this CD is that HALF of the songs are great; the other half have TOO MUCH teenage Boy-Band style "mushiness"; like they are targeting the teenage girl crowd.

- Maybe it's their intention and direction, and if it is, excuse me while I find another band to follow. They have gone downhill on this CD. Hopefully they'll grow a pair after this 50% "cupcake and milk" release.

3 out of 5 stars

WGHWYT? August 7, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful

I've followed Trapt since the days of Glimpse EP all the way to Only Through The Pain. I believe each album is a reflection of the bands growth and maturity and finds new ways to capture the listeners. Trapt has always made amazing music but on this album they kind of lack to bring anything new to the table. I feel like most of the sounds are little too soft for Trapt, not that the slow songs don't work but its not what I expected to hear from them. 'Cover Up' is a track where you can truly feel the presence of the old Trapt and is by far the best song on the entire album. All the other songs are good, but it does take time to get used to. Its definatley worth checking out!

5 out of 5 stars

IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS....AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD THING!!!! August 9, 2008
2 out of 10 found this review helpful

What's with all these 3 star reviews(I'm sure there will be 1 and 2 stars to come)! Those people are either off their rocker or they reviewed the wrong product. In either case it sounds like their engine is running but there's no one behind the wheel, if you know what I mean. THIS IS AN AWESOME CD!!!!!!!!

I loved Trapt's 1st cd and thought it was probably the best they would ever do. I was wrong! This one is better, but not by much. There 2nd cd Someone In Control, was very disappointing. There were only a couple of songs on it a liked, with the main one being Take Me Back. However, they have redeemed themselves with Only Through The Pain!

With Trapt's latest, I can't think of one song I didn't like. Not even close to one I disliked. It's one of those type of cd's you can listen from beginning to end without having to skip the junk songs.

My personal favorites on this cd in no particualr order are Only One In Color(This may be the best song on the cd though, it's tight race), Black Rose(another fabulous song), Wasteland, Who's Going Home With You Tonight(already a smash hit), and Curiosity Kills. I believe those I just mentioned, any one of them, could easily become smash radio hits.

Don't listen to the crazy naysayers! Go buy this cd now or download it from amazon or itunes or somewhere. You won't be disappointed! I had already heard an advanced copy of this prior to it's official release and was so psyched up to buy it the day it came out I couldn't wait to go to the store to purchase a copy so, I downloaded a copy from itunes. Yeah, it's that good!

The bottom line is this: THIS IS HOW ROCK IS DONE!!!!!!!!!

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