Shinedown’s new album is meant to surprise. The attempt something different on 鈥淓I8HT,鈥� their aptly titled eighth studio release, out Friday.
Frontman Brent Smith, guitarist Zach Myers, bassist Eric Bass and drummer Barry Kerch flaunt their musical creativity on an ambitious 18-song journey. While their last two albums 鈥� 2018鈥檚 鈥淎ttention Attention鈥� and 2022鈥檚 鈥淧lanet Zero鈥� 鈥� were concept-driven with mostly hard rock songs, scraps that format. Instead, the versatile 鈥淓I8HT鈥� is an unpredictable mix of hard rock, power ballads, string-filled choruses 鈥� and even country 鈥� backing Smith’s musings on love, loss, perseverance and redemption.
It’s a that might not hit with some fans who first found the band in their post-grunge days, 25 years ago. But the album is arguably one of Shinedown鈥檚 best.
鈥淵ou think you know me? / You know nothing at all,鈥� Smith sings on the lead track 鈥淎t The Bottom,鈥� fair warning for what’s ahead.
鈥淪afe and Sound,鈥� 鈥淜illing Fields鈥� and 鈥淢achine Gun鈥� are high-energy bangers that will leave some old-school listeners wanting more.
Want to bounce around? 鈥淒ance, Kid, Dance,鈥� 鈥淵oung Again,鈥� 鈥淏urning Down The Disco,鈥� 鈥淒izzy鈥� and the industrial synth-influenced 鈥淒eep End鈥� got you.
鈥淭hree Six Five鈥� is a heart-wrenching rock ballad about cherishing time with loved ones.
鈥淚f I could hitch a ride on a time machine,鈥� Smith sings. 鈥淚 would bring you right back here with me / And I wouldn鈥檛 have to watch you disappear.鈥�
Smith and Myers draw on their Tennessee roots as Shinedown gives full-on country a try for the first time with 鈥淪earchlight,鈥� a song flavored by a steel guitar, banjo and fiddle.
The acoustic closer 鈥淭he Pilot鈥� is the album’s most poignant track, with Smith insisting: 鈥淭oday鈥檚 a battle, but I鈥檒l win the war.鈥� Violins, basses, cellos and violas arranged by Bass, the main producer for the third consecutive Shinedown album, provide the backdrop.
This version of Shinedown is certainly different from their angst-ridden early years when the lyrics were darker and the sound grittier. Some fans might bemoan the band’s gradual foray into the mainstream, hanging on to the few spots on 鈥淓I8HT鈥� that offer reminders. But the hard rock foundation remains, and Smith’s soaring vocals have been a constant.
Shinedown has made a career of baring their souls in their music. 鈥淓I8HT鈥� is another victory, maybe their biggest yet.
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鈥淓I8HT鈥� by Shinedown
Four stars out of five.
On repeat: 鈥淪afe and Sound,鈥� 鈥淜illing Fields,鈥� 鈥淒izzy鈥�
Skip it: 鈥淏ear With Me.鈥�
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