Arriving in the 1990s with massive albums such as 1992’s Core, 1994’s Purple, 1996’s Tiny Music… Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop, and 1999’s No. 4, Stone Temple Pilots became one of Alternative Hard Rock’s most successful and distinctive bands. Defined by the guitar work of the Robert and Dean DeLeo (which mixed Blues with Heavy Rock), hard-hitting drumming of Eric Kretz, and of course the unmistakable, dynamic voice of Scott Weiland, Stone Temple Pilots topped charts with 1992’s “Plush,” 1994’s “Interstate Love Song,” 1996’s “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart,” and 1999’s “Sour Girl.”
A decade-long dominance, they continued to strike gold (literally, in terms of sales) with their 2001 new millennium album, Shangri-La Dee Da. However, the band took different paths shortly thereafter, with Scott Weiland joining Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum in Velvet Revolver, as the DeLeo brothers teamed with Filter’s Richard Patrick in Army of Anyone. Two projects that have produced a good share of quality music, there was still a hunger for Stone Temple Pilots. Fast forward to 2008, and there were rumblings of the band reforming for some shows and, subsequently, new music. Making it happen, they then began work on their sixth album in early 2009, releasing it as a self-titled on May 21, 2010.
Nearly a decade removed from Shangri-La Dee Da, there was significant buzz around Stone Temple Pilots’ new music, and with everyone working together again, the songs flowed naturally. This time, the DeLeo brothers handled the production on their own, and the album was once again a mixed bag of influences. Much like prior Stone Temple Pilots records, they meshed Blues, straight-up Rock-n-Roll, and even some ‘60s Psychedelic into it all. A very well-refined record, each song is strong in its own right, with standouts including the lead single “Between the Lines,” “Hickory Dichotomy,” and the incredibly catchy “Cinnamon.” There is also the irresistible riffs of “Hazy Daze” and “Fast as I Can,” as well as the addictive “First Kiss on Mars.”
A remarkable comeback, Stone Temple Pilots peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Hard Rock charts, while making an equal impact worldwide. A promising hope for future work, unfortunately, the band parted ways with Scott Weiland in 2011, ushering in the brief but interesting Chester Bennington era, which produced the 2013 EP High Rise. A period that only lasted two years, Bennington set out to focus on Linkin Park in 2015, and tragically, a month later, Scott Weiland died from an accidental overdose while on a solo tour. Leaving Stone Temple Pilots in a state of unknown, they reconvened in 2016, hired Vocalist Jeff Gutt, and put out two albums with him – 2018’s Stone Temple Pilots (marking a second self-title) and 2020’s Perdida.
Still actively playing shows through 2025, it is essential to look back on 2010’s Stone Temple Pilots as it celebrates its fifteenth anniversary. The last album to feature the classic lineup of Robert and Dean DeLeo, Eric Kretz, and the late Scott Weiland, it holds a special place in many fans’ hearts. That is why it is exciting to learn about a vinyl reissue of the album, which arrived on October 24, 2025, through Rhino Records. One of the many titles in their Rocktober 2025 series, it marks the first vinyl reissue, with the original pressing coinciding with the 2010 release. However, the one difference this time is that the new edition is pressed on stunningly beautiful red vinyl.
A perfect complement to the album cover’s color scheme, featuring the classic Peace Fingers, the 2025 re-release features the original twelve tracks on one LP, which sounds fantastic. A great addition to your collection if you missed the vinyl version from 2010, it is also a great holiday gift idea for the Stone Temple Pilots lover in your life. That is why Cryptic Rock says happy fifteenth anniversary to this memorable 2010 album, giving the red vinyl reissue 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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