High Rise (EP)

High Rise
EP by Stone Temple Pilots
Released	October 8, 2013
Recorded	May 2013-October 2013 at Homefry Studios
Genre	Alternative rock, hard rock
Length	16:26
Label	Play Pen, LLC
Producer	Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots chronology
Stone Temple Pilots (2010) High Rise (2013)
Singles from Stone Temple Pilots
"Out of Time" Released: May 19, 2013 "Black Heart" Released: September 18, 2013

High Rise is the first studio EP by the American rock band Stone Temple Pilots, released on October 8, 2013 through Play Pen, LLC. It is the first release by the band to not feature former lead vocalist Scott Weiland, who was fired from the band in February 2013. It instead features his lead vocal replacement Chester Bennington of Linkin Park and Dead by Sunrise, and the band is credited on the EP as Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington.

Background

On February 27, 2013, Stone Temple Pilots fired their lead vocalist Scott Weiland.^[1] Weiland responded to the firing with his own statement, "I learned of my supposed 'termination' from Stone Temple Pilots this morning by reading about it in the press. Not sure how I can be 'terminated' from a band that I founded, fronted and co-wrote many of its biggest hits, but that's something for the lawyers to figure out."^[2] He has since made several claims that he is still legally a member of the band and that the band has no right to perform under the Stone Temple Pilots moniker with another singer.^[3][4] They have since replaced Weiland with Bennington on the vocals.

The firing has since resulted in legal action. The three remaining members (guitarist Dean DeLeo, bassist Robert DeLeo, and drummer Eric Kretz) have sued Weiland to prevent him from calling himself a former member of STP. Weiland counter-sued the other three members for wrongfully attempting to expel him, for misleading the public by referring to their performances with Bennington as STP, and to dissolve the band STP. Both lawsuits are ongoing.

On May 18, 2013, Stone Temple Pilots performed their debut concert with Bennington, appearing as special guests at the 21st Annual KROQ Weenie Roast, benefiting Heal the Bay. They performed a new song, "Out of Time." ^[5] The next day, the band released a free download of the song "Out of Time" via their official website. The updated website also featured new promotional pictures of the band including Bennington. Coincidentally, Bennington had exclaimed years before in interviews that singing lead vocals in Stone Temple Pilots was his lifelong dream. Weiland's former Velvet Revolver band mate Slash has praised the band's decision to replace Weiland with Bennington.^[6]

Bennington said in May of new material that the band would not likely record a full-length studio album in the near future, explaining: "We don't have a label. Everything we're doing is on our own, so we're just taking it one track at a time. We would love to sit down and hammer out a record, but the reality is we're gonna make music, we're gonna make a lot of it, and we're gonna be in a position to release a single at a time, go out and really give people music the way they want to get it." This may explain the band's decision to release an EP as opposed to a full album.^[7]

On October 3, 2013, Stone Temple Pilots and Bennington's complete stream of the EP can be seen and heard on Pandora Radio for Pandora Premieres, including the singles "Out of Time" and "Black Heart" that are featured on the EP officially.^[8]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[9]
Calgary Herald	[10]
Consequence of Sound	[11]
The Gazette	[12]
Ultimate Guitar	6.3/10[13]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic gave High Rise a favorable review, writing that "these songs are expertly sculpted, playing upon the kind of riffs and melodies that made the group alt-rock titans in the '90s, and still sounding somewhat irresistible even when they're po-faced."^[14] In its review, Sputnikmusic questioned the band's decision to not change its name and said that with Bennington on vocals, "it's clear by the opening track...that this is a completely different band." However, the site gave the album a 3.0 "good" rating and stated that tracks "Same on the Inside" and "Tomorrow" "contain both the hooks and the riffs that made [STP] such a great band to begin with."^[15] AlternativeNation.net also praised the album, writing that "High Rise is pop rock bliss and should please STP fans who have enjoyed the band’s ventures into poppier territory."^[16]

Montreal Gazette gave High Rise a mixed review, awarding it 2.5 out of 5 stars, stating that "High Rise gives us the springy, bass-driven songs we’ve come to expect from STP. But again, the results are inconsistent...basically, High Rise is almost the STP we remember."^[17]

Commercial performance

High Rise debuted at #21 on the Billboard 200, selling 13,520 copies in its first week.^[18]

"Out of Time" was used as the official theme song to WWE's Hell in a Cell event.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Chester Bennington, Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo and Eric Kretz.

Personnel

Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington

• Chester Bennington – lead vocals
• Robert DeLeo – bass, backing vocals
• Dean DeLeo – guitars
• Eric Kretz – drums

Additional personnel

• Production by Stone Temple Pilots
• Recorded At: Homefry Studios
• Recorded & Engineered by Russ Fowler
• Assistant Engineer: Jared Hirshland
• Studio Guitar Tech: Bruce Nelson
• Studio Drum Tech: Jarrett Borba
• Mixed by Ben Grosse at The Mix Room in Burbank, California
• Mix Assistant: Paul Pavao
• Mastered by Tom Baker at Baker Mastering in Calabasas, California
• Original “Check It” Image Art Work by Chester Bennington
• Band Photo by Chapman Baehler
• Layout Design by Great Daane Graphics
• Published by ChesterChaz Publishing (BMI)/Brain Tan Music (ASCAP)/I, Myself And Me (ASCAP)/Fast Fog Music (ASCAP)
• Chester Bennington appears courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

References