Spoken fans waiting for another new album from the band:  count on it, but we don’t know how soon.  Spoken founder and lead singer Matt Baird tells TheBlast.FM that he has been “writing a lot, and filling in the gaps of what types of tunes are still needed to make a cohesive record”.  Spoken recently acquired guitarist JR Bareis from Love And Death for a player to be named later.  Sorry, good joke, it’s baseball season.  But JR did leave Love and Death and has become an official member of Spoken.    Baird says he has no idea how soon they will release the first single from the next album.  The Blast still has “Dying Without You” from IX in current rotation.

JR Bareis, above left;  Matt Baird, above right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDRQXrRtE5M

Former Creed lead singer Scott Stapp has his life back on track with Jesus Christ and he has a new album coming out soon.  The Blast saw this track and jumped on it early, before it was even released in the Christian radio market.  We were the first to report this to the national Christian rock chart.

The video features an intense performance by Scott and his band intercut with the narrative of a young boy’s escape from the pain of an abusive home. As he runs down a lonely road, his journey goes from bad to worse when he is offered a chemical “solution” for his pain, but refuses, knowing there’s a purpose for his life outside of the struggles he’s enduring. He then arrives at a make shift fort he’s created where he’s covered the walls with pictures of his dreams, his hopes, and hand-written reminders to keep believing and stay strong. There, the boy breaks in frustration and pain. He screams, grieves, and lashes out in a moment of doubt fearing he will never overcome his situation. He then continues to run, desperately searching for answers and peace.  He finally stops on a mountain top, gazing up towards the heavens, looking out into the great unknown knowing one day he will find freedom, peace, and the life he dreams of, if he just holds on to hope, knowing this struggle, this pain, will not last forever. He just has to hold on.

With lyrics that insist, “There’s got to be more cuz this life is insane. Gotta turn this around and find the purpose for pain,” and considering Scott’s real-life story of recovery, it’s clear which choice will win in the end.

Long time Creed/Stapp collaborator, Director Daniel E Catullo III filmed Scott Stapp’s performance in Puerto Rico where the rocker recently performed a sold-out show at the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A Ferre Theater. The narrative of “young Scott” was shot on location in Joshua Tree, CA and portrayed by actor, Omar Mughannam.

“I’ve worked with Scott for many years now and consider him one of my dearest friends. I was honored to be able to collaborate with him on this video and to direct the first video on the album.  Coming up with creative ideas is always fun with Scott and it is an extra bonus that we think alike in so many ways. For this video it was a true collaborative effort and we went back and forth on a bunch of ideas until we decided on the final storyline.  I think the final video captured the essence of the song perfectly”, said Director Daniel E Catullo III.