Shinedown's highly anticipated third album, 'The Sound Of Madness,' opens with lead single 'Devour.' Its heavy onslaught of ripping guitars and relentless drums would not sound out of place on a Guitar Hero soundtrack. Of the album, frontman Brent Smith says 'in the seven years of this thing called Shinedown, I've seen a lot of different things - what we've all gone through on the road, things in our personal lives or witnessed firsthand through the fans that we've made and the relationships we've built with our audience.' Their face-melting rock comes as no surprise, considering that the band hails from sultry Jacksonville, Florida.
'The Sound of Madness' Deluxe CD/DVD includes album tracks, bonus audio, official and live videos, and comes with a free year of fanclub membership with each purchase. 'The Sound of Madness' offers a brave and unsparing look into the soul and psyche amidst a fierce musical attack that, even in its quieter moments, vibrate with the passion, energy and focus of a band with high-minded ideals and limitless ambitions. The group's hard rock muscles flex on songs such as the first single, 'Devour,' 'Cry For Help,' 'Sin With a Grin' and the title track.
But the likes of 'The Crow and the Butterfly,' 'Breaking Inside' and their breakout single 'Second Chance' incorporate sophisticated, emotional dynamics (enhanced by a 20-piece string section), while Smith counts 'If You Only Knew' as his first straight-up love song.