Staind have named their ninth studio album The Space Between the Darkness and the Light. Singer Aaron Lewis revealed the title during an Audacy interview with Abe Kanan, confirming that the record is finished as the band introduces it with lead single “Ghosts.”
“I know it’ll come out soon. I know that it’s done,” Lewis said. He did not provide a release date.
“Ghosts” arrived October 14 through Alchemy Recordings/BMG, alongside an official music video. The song reunites Staind with producer Erik Ron, who also worked on their previous studio album, Confessions of the Fallen.
The track began during a writing trip to Nashville. In comments accompanying its release, guitarist Mike Mushok recalled coming up with the riff during a session with Ron. They developed the instrumental track in one day, with Lewis hearing it later and adding his vocal. Lewis said the song emerged as a favorite among the group because it combined familiar elements with something they had not expected. “It’s a little different, and it surprised all of us,” he said.
For Lewis, the connection to earlier Staind records runs through the lyrics. He described the new album as a continuation of his writing about adulthood and the lingering consequences of childhood trauma. That subject remains unresolved in his life, he told Kanan, and continues to shape the material.
The band’s working relationship had already become more comfortable during these sessions. Speaking with Donny Fandango of 105.7 The Point in May, Mushok explained that making Confessions of the Fallen had initially caused anxiety because the musicians had gone so long without writing together. For the next record, they could return to a process they had established during that reunion, making the sessions smoother.
Confessions of the Fallen arrived on September 22, 2023, ending a 12 year gap between Staind studio albums. It also introduced more electronic elements into their arrangements. In a September 2025 interview with Audio Ink Radio, Mushok said the material taking shape was continuing in that direction, with several songs already under consideration.
His May update offered a more detailed picture of the recording schedule. Although Mushok initially described the ninth album as done, he clarified that his demo guitar and bass parts still needed to be replaced before mixing. Lewis’s new interview confirms that the project has since reached completion.
Mushok had anticipated a 2027 release. With the title revealed and “Ghosts” available, the album’s exact release date remains unannounced.
