The Sound of Madness Shinedown (CD)
Fans of hard rock rejoice - Shinedown's third album will rock your piercings off with its fierce intensity. Prepare for an energetic romp through everything the genre has to offer, from fast-paced demonstrations of vocal vigour to heart-rending power ballads.
Every track on the talented Florida band's album is incredible - they had written more than 40 tracks and selected just 11 of the best for The Sound of Madness, though the deluxe edition includes an extra three tracks.
Opener Devour is a hard-hitting and incredibly powerful song that will get you amped up and jumping around the room, all the while threatening to blow your speakers apart.
It is followed by the title track, a classic-sounding rock anthem that will bring out your inner head-banger in the space of a few bars. Rock ballad Second Chance slows things down slightly, giving listeners a breather. It may be a ballad, but the song is still packed with enough emotional power and angst to maintain the hard rock mood.
If you enjoy ripping guitars and heavy drum beats, this won't disappoint. Established fans will be pleased with the band's direction on this third album. And it's a great place to start if this is your first foray into the Shinedown sound.