Stone Temple Pilots
– No. 4
If No. 4 proved anything, it’s that Stone Temple Pilots could still hit hard while refining their craft. Stripping away the psychedelic detours of their previous record, they went straight for the gut—lean, mean, and packed with hooks that land like a knockout punch. The album swings between swaggering grit and aching vulnerability, sometimes within the same breath. The raw energy is undeniable, yet there’s a newfound focus, as if they knew exactly where to place each blow.

Beneath the snarling guitars and pounding rhythms, there’s a tension that keeps everything tight. It’s the sound of a band regaining their footing while standing dangerously close to the edge. The highs feel euphoric, the lows cut deep, and through it all, there’s an urgency that makes it impossible to ignore. If their earlier records defined their rise, No. 4 was proof they weren’t going anywhere without a fight.