Talk about detonating on impact. The Illusion Of Progress, the new album from Flip/Atlantic recording artists Staind, rocketed onto the Billboard 200 this week at #3, making it the fourth consecutive album of the band's career to debut in the top 3.

News of the album's explosive arrival follows a flurry of headline-making moves for the multi-platinum band, who recently teamed with online retailer Amazon.com for an innovative pre-release promotion, and have been on a worldwide summer tour, to be followed by a run in Europe with Nickelback in September, and headlining dates with special guests Seether and Papa Roach beginning October 4th at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. Fans can go to www.Staind.com for ticket information.

The Illusion Of Progress is being propelled by chart-topping lead single "Believe," currently #2 at Modern Rock, #5 at Active Rock, and #4 at Mainstream Rock. The song has already begun crossing over to the Hot AC charts with a debut at #34. "Believe" is Staind's fastest-growing hit since "It's Been Awhile."

In other news, Staind is set to perform on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on August 28th, to be followed by a special solo acoustic performance by lead singer Aaron Lewis on August 31 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, CA.

About The Illusion Of Progress, the Boston Globe wrote, "…the music packs as much punch as ever—and more variety, as Staind sometimes departs from its rock-metal power ballads for tunes that suggest Pink Floyd and even Brit band Oasis." The Hartford Courant praised the band for "pushing its musical boundaries outward," and USA Today hailed the quartet for serving up a "nicely crafted ballad or two" and "a few engaging surprises, including the sparse, acoustic "Tangled Up In You," politically charged "Rainy Day Parade" and "The Corner," with a gospel choir and a bluesy grandeur worthy of Pink Floyd."

The Illusion Of Progress is Staind's sixth album and the follow-up to 2005's certified platinum Chapter V. The album was produced by Johnny K and recorded in Lewis' home studio with guitarist Mike Mushok , drummer Jon Wysocki, and bassist Johnny April.

Tour dates for Staind are as follows (additional dates to be confirmed)

-With 3 Doors Down and Hinder
8/27 WaMu Theater Seattle, WA
8/29 Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, NV
8/30 Konocti Field Amphitheater Kelseyville, CA
8/31 Verizon Wireless Amp Irvine, CA (Aaron Lewis solo show)

-With Nickelback in Europe
9/8 Cologne Arena Cologne
9/9 Schleyerhalle Stuttgart
9/12 Odyssey Arena Belfast
9/13 RDS Simmonscourt Dublin
9/15 MEN Arena Manchester
9/16 Sheffield Arena Sheffield
9/18 The NEC Birmingham
9/19 o2 Arena London
9/21 Wembley Arena London
10/3 Turning Stone Verona, NY (Staind only)

-With Seether and Papa Roach
10/4 Merriweather Post Pavilion Columbia, MD
10/7 Greensboro Special Events Center Greensboro, NC
10/9 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, FL
10/10 St. Augustine Amphitheater St. Augustine, FL
10/12 Hard Rock Live Orlando, FL
10/14 Heritage Park Simpsonville (Greenville), SC
10/15 Freedom Hall Civic Center Johnson City, TN
10/17 The Amphitheater at the Warf Orange Beach, AL
10/18 Snowden Grove Park Amphitheater Southaven, MS
10/19 Lakewood Amphitheater Atlanta, GA
10/21 Black River Coliseum Poplar Bluff, MO
10/22 Rockford Metrocenter Rockford, IL
10/24 Tulsa Convention Center Arena Tulsa, OK
10/26 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Houston, TX
11/12 Mohegan Sun Casino Uncasville, CT (with Papa Roach only)
11/14 Sovereign Center Reading, PA (with Papa Roach only)
11/15 Asbury Park Convention Hall Complex Asbury Park, NJ
11/16 Tsongas Arena Lowell, MA
11/18 Hammerstein Ballroom New York, NY

More Staind:
-Ringtones
-Discography/Reviews

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