On Shinedown's third album, The Sound of Madness, the Jacksonville-based band hits every post-grunge expectation: winding up the guitar riffs with thin, flattened distortion; pumping up rhythms with steroids; punctuating melodies with familiar fills; and writing vaguely inspirational lyrics that come close to confirming the group's rumored Christian rock origins. Their precision is accentuated by producer Rob Cavallo's pristine production, digitally designed to push Shinedown over into the big leagues where they can have the occasional adult rock power ballad hit without losing their testosterone-fueled audience. Nothing is left to chance, and that's the way Shinedown's fans like it. Some of those fans -- the ones who like to see the band on the WWE, where "Devour," the first song on The Sound of Madness and its first single, is 2008's Night of Champions theme song -- may carp slightly about that slight increase in gloss and almost imperceptible uptick in power ballads, but most won't notice these subtle shifts as Shinedown serve up what they always have: active modern rock embodying the sound of post-grunge in the new millennium. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Sound of Madness (the song itself) is an absolute BLAST to.. um.. blast at four in the morning in a truck going about 80 down a highway. or 50 through a little old town.
not that i'd know personally. friend of a friend of a friend, you know.
in other news, if my local radio station plays second chance one more time, i am going to s**t a purple monkey and then go blow up that goddamn comet.
Like a lot of bands, there are some songs that I really can't stand, but there are some really awesome ones. The best ones are Second Chance, The Crow & The Butterfly, If You Only Knew, and Breaking Inside.
man this band kicks a**!!!!! this album is definately the best!!!!Cyanide sweet tooth suicide and sound of madness are the best songs on the album!!!!!!! 45 is great too!! :)
I could listen to this album all day. Every song is good. There are only two songs that I couldn't listen to repeatedly (Sin With A Grin & Cyanide Sweet Tooth).
Seeing them live quickly allowed them to jump near the top of my favorite band list.
My son turned me on to this group. I instantly fell in love with the lead singers voice. The band is incredible. I am 49 years old next month and I'm still a rocker.
I can honestly say that i love every song on every album made from these guys, and the only other band i can say that about would be disturbed and maybe incubus
Very good album.....right up there with Leave a Whisper. I really dig the new lineup, no offense to the original guys. Keep up the good work, and those who havent bought this cd, do IT! Great cd, from the beginning to end!