Shinedown - The Sound Of Madness
Ever since I first hear the title track from this album, I have been a massive Shinedown fan; so needless to say I was pretty excited when the album dropped onto my desk last week.
It's shocking that these four guys from Florida have already blown away audiences as they supported rock Gods Disturbed on their recent UK tour, despite not having released a single record in the UK, and it just goes to show how much charisma and talent this band have.
Singer Brent Smith has no qualms about letting his emotions rip through each and every song on the album; whether he's feeling love or hate, you're sure as hell going to know about it as the band plough their way through 13 great tracks.
The album opens with the hard-hitting Devour which begins with a drum-march beat as the snare and bass stomp their way towards you like marching army of soldiers before unleashing the power of their musical army on your without even pausing for breath.
Then comes the lead single, The Sound Of Madness, which I am absolutely crazy about; the edgy verses and the catchy and melodic chorus mixed with one of the hottest guitar hooks I've heard all year is everything you could want from these boys, and staying true to the ‘army' of Shinedown; this single is a true call to arms; " You can sleep with a gun, when you gonna wake up and fight?"
Cry For Help is destined to be a live favourite as it's filled with raw power and energy as Brent growls the words right from the pit of his stomach whilst Barry Kerch sets the whole marching anthem behind his crashing drums.
We're given a brief respite from the musical hammering with The Crow And The Butterfly, a song that proves that even these rock legends in the making can do sensitive and pretty. The chorus is absolutely epic and you can imagine their fans waving their lighters in the air.
If Only You Knew is much of the same in being a melodic rock song which puts them in the same vein as Staind, Nickelback and at a push their new celeb best mates, Disturbed.
The same goes for What A Shame, Breaking Inside and Call Me which all demonstrate the slower side of the band and although I was led to believe these guys were ‘rock' and although these songs sound remarkably like something The Calling would sing they somehow work for Shinedown and show a wonderfully diverse side to them.
They don't let you relax for too long though as Sin With A Grin and Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide return the album to the breakneck speed with love, complete with pumping bass-line courtesy of Eric Bass (cool name) and a ear-splitting guitar contribution from Mr Zach Myers.
I completely love that they've named one of their songs Energy, even though they're not actually bigging themselves up in this record, it sums up their sound perfectly; well it sums up half of their sound perfectly... because when they're rocking out , they come at you like a steaming train.
The album draws to a close with Son Of Sam, another absolute bloody fantastic track which leaves me yearning for more as it draws to a close! It's a perfect end to what was an incredible debut UK album release; beginning with the march of drums and ending in an explosion of drums, guitar, bass and Brent Smith.... Yummy.
Rating: 5/5 - My new favourite album
Skip To: The Sound Of Madness for an epic anthem or The Crow And The Butterfly if you're feeling romantic.
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison
Tagged in Shinedown