Appropriately named, EI8HT is indeed album number eight from the Jacksonville foursome, and their first release since 2022’s excellent Planet Zero. It’s been preceded by no fewer than six singles, which seems excessive until you realise that there are eighteen songs on here, so they still have more songs hidden away than some bands even put on an album.
Shinedown are an eclectic act, and across the opening three songs alone you get a feel for how they can dip their toes into pretty much any puddle in the rock genre. Opener “At The Bottom” has the feeling of the start of a stage musical, and in a way this makes it perfect to introduce you to the lengthy musical performance to follow. “Dance, Kid, Dance” came out in January last year and is the up-tempo thumper you’d expect from the band, and it’s followed by “Burning Down The Disco”. A song perhaps ironically titled as it’s funky as hell, with a great bass beat and very much pays homage to the popular 70s genre. Get your afros combed and your flares on for this one!
“Three Six Five” was released as a single on the same day as “Dance, Kid, Dance” so you’ll recognise its Def Leppard-esque clean guitar intro (tell me that doesn’t sound like “Hysteria”) as Shinedown go all classic rock. For this reviewer, these lighter songs are where Shinedown absolutely, well, shine. The lyrics know exactly where to hit as well as the drum beats, they’re easy to sing along to and I’ll be amazed if this doesn’t feature on the upcoming tour setlist. A song that’s sad, but at the same time gives hope. Nailed it.
“Young Again” comes across as Brent singing about his formative years, and the song itself is catchy as anything, even on the first listen. If you’re looking for a song to clap your hands or stomp your feet to then “Dizzy” is it. Eric Bass (pronounced as the fish, not the instrument) must have taken the lead on “Imposter” given the strong bass lead on this one. “Machine Gun” appropriately ups the tempo as Smith belts out the lyrics with some lovely backing vocals supporting him.
It would be easy for “Outlaw” to head down the Bon Jovi route given the obvious cowboy links, and it does include a lyric about “gunning for you”, but the driving tone is very much Shinedown through and through. “Safe and Sound” is the most raucous track on the album, strident and punky, uplifting and abrasive – and possibly a commentary on the incumbent US administration (“Take me to your leader / I’ll show you a fraud / An ego unfiltered / Out here playing god”)?
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“Searchlight” made an impact on the audience at the Grand Ole Opry (not the one in Glasgow) where it was debuted, and cemented Shinedown’s ability to bring musical households together. I’ve always maintained that country music and rock are very closely related, and this song hits the balance between the two by dint of the lyrical content, fiddle and banjo. The first thing that jumped out at me in “Bear With Me” (beyond the tribal rhythms) is the use of the word “bollocks”. Thank you, Shinedown, for including a common Britishism in your lyrics!
You know what we’ve not had yet? Something gothy. Something electronic. Something new wave. So here’s “Deep End”. Tell me Ultravox couldn’t have co-written this with The Cure. Following it is “Killing Field”, one of the half dozen singles, which starts a little off-kilter and weirdly jaunty and builds into one of those songs that has every hair on your body standing on end. If there’s a track to point to that highlights the production on this album… here we are.
Stripping things back, “Back To The Living” kicks off with one of those “Brent Smith and a piano” moments, and ends up being a song where each of the band members gets a chance to shine. An ode to those who’ve suffered loss, it’s a beautiful piece. Powerful and emotive, I can genuinely see this one bringing tears to eyes.
As we enter the final stretch of this musical marathon, “Wide Open” gives us a chance to relax. As close an easy-going rock track as there is on EI8HT, it still manages to stick in the brain once it’s finished. Undeniably Shinedown. “So Glad That You Asked” is a breezy, floating number to begin with and then the drums and bass kick in to give you a real rocker.
All good things must come to an end, and we have “The Pilot” to round things off. An acoustic guitar, some vocals… and that’s all we need. Strings come in as the song reaches a climax, but somehow this peaceful but powerful refrain is a perfect way to round off an album that’s touched on so many other types of rock music.
There’s an undeniable undertone throughout EI8HT (and one that pervades so much of Shinedown’s previous work) – hope. “Imposter” asks us “Don’t give up on me”. “Three Six Five” reminds us that you should “Keep looking out, not looking down”. “Bear With Me”‘s entirety is about realising that life ain’t easy… but to keep on going. Add this to the other feature in every one of these songs: catchiness. Great lyrics, great music… all the way through the entire hour plus.
Perhaps due to the fact that there are so many songs on here, there is absolutely something for everyone on here if they even remotely like radio-friendly rock music. I mean, you’re spoiled for choice. What amazes me is the maintained level of quality throughout. Let me emphasise again: eighteen songs. That’s arguably more than a double album. And yet this is as strong an album as Shinedown have ever released. No wonder they’re moving to arena venues to hold it all in.
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EI8HT is out on May 29th
Header image by Ryan Camp
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