Review by Kimmarie Erickson for MPM
Brent Smith and the fellas released their eighth studio album on May 29th, 2026, produced by the bands bassist Eric Bass, on Atlantic Records. As I started to think about Shinedown and their music, I wondered how this could only be their eighth studio album. Shinedown’s music has been the soundtrack to my whole adult life. It is a rare anomaly that a band can continue to produce albums that have any number one hits on them, let’s be honest. Eight debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums chart and reached No. 3 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, and Top Album Sales, with its single “Young Again” ruling Hot Hard Rock Songs. The album spawned six singles, “Three Six Five”, “Dance, Kid, Dance”, “Killing Fields”, “Searchlight”, “Safe and Sound”, and “Young Again”, along with four promotional singles, “Outlaw”, “Burning Down the Disco”, “At the Bottom”, and “Dizzy”.There are 18 tracks in all, and doing a breakdown of each would have us here all day, so let me just give you the highlights, in other words, my favorite tracks.
Track 1, At the Bottom, was not going to make this review at first. I knew I had to be especially selective on which songs I chose to spotlight in my review. The first time I heard this song, I felt beige, vanilla, if you will. I listened to it a second time and realized I obviously was not paying attention the first time. A strong Ringling Brothers Three Ring Circus vibe; a lot is happening in this song. A creative arrangement with great variation of tone and concept. Track Four, Three Six Five, the first single, is the song that got me hooked on this album. I cannot tell you how many times I have listened to this song. The lyrics live rent-free in my soul. If you only listen to one song by Shinedown in your entire life, this would be the one I recommend. This song is perfection, melodic and lyrically profound. Track Six, Young Again, released May 29th, 2026, is the last single of the six from the album. This one is a nostalgia-inducing perfect storm of heavy guitar hooks and a full-bodied instrumental arrangement. Track Seven, Dizzy, is a love song that I am in love with. I am a sap for tracks that resonate with uplifting vibes. Track Eight, Machine Gun, caught my attention because of lyrics in the chorus: Instead of you, I’m holding a machine gun. This track is a war anthem worth a critical listen. Search Light, Track Eleven, is another thought-provoking ballad. This one hits me hard every time I hear it. The premise unfolds slowly, explaining the plot simply: you have to make your own way. Track thirteen, Deep End, has a retro 1980’s vibe; the keyboard line is really the star of this show. Back To The Living, track fifteen, gets an honorable mention and a shout-out just because it is a fantastic song to listen to if you are grieving the loss of a loved one. The last track, The Pilot, is a tribute to those souls who are struggling in life. This song stopped me in my tracks. I know Brett Smith struggled with addiction early in his life, and I feel this song might be a cutaway to that time.
I am going to be blunt now; this is by far Shinedown’s best album to date. I am still in awe of Zach Myers, Brent Smith, Eric Bass, and Barry Kerch and their ability to still write with such power, meaning, and relevance. If you have never been a Shinedown fan, now is the time, and this is the album that will get you obsessed with this band. I cannot recommend this one enough, and it is a billion percent Skullgurl Metalchick approved.
Shinedown are:
Brent Smith [vocals]
Zach Myers [guitar]
Eric Bass [bass, production]
Barry Kerch [drums]
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