SHINEDOWN RELEASE SEVENTH STUDIO ALBUM 'PLANET ZERO'
Florida rock band Shinedown released their seventh studio album today, Planet Zero via Atlantic Records, which they call their most ambitious yet. This is a follow up to their 2018 album, Attention! Attention! Shinedown is made up of vocalist Brent Smith, guitarist Zach Myers, bassist/producer Eric Bass, and drummer Barry Kerch. The album is a concept album of a dystopian future with a robot, Cyren, welcoming the listener to Planet Zero and the environment where the album takes place.
The album opens with an interlude of sorts entitled “2184”, which only lasts about 20 seconds and goes right into “No Sleep Tonight”. The song kicks off with kicking drums before the other instruments kick in, including Brent Smith. Of the song, Smith says,
“Social media can be used in a very positive way, but it can also be used in an extremely devastating way—and the last few years have definitely shown that.”
People are braver behind a keyboard and say things that they would never say in a face to face conversation. That rolls right into the title track “Planet Zero”, which, in concept, describes the landing in the world.
“Out here on planet zero, we live like no tomorrow. I think we’ve reached the ceiling, they’re canceling your feelings.”
The song has a catchy melody and a chorus that easily gets stuck in your head, which is a characteristic of a lot of Shinedown’s catalog and a lot of this record.
This song was the lead single on the album and was therefore incorporated into setlists every night on their spring tour. To no surprise it translates incredibly well live, which is something this band is known for. Most of this album will translate incredibly well on their upcoming tours, as Shinedown is basically on the road all fall for the continuation of the “Planet Zero Tour”.
Track six, “Dead Don’t Die”, is one of those that has a running drumline and bass behind it that would fill up an arena. The song to me means no matter how many things life throws at you, you can get back up.
“Knock me down, six feet deep, one more round. No reprieve.”
The interludes or talking breaks like “Welcome”, “Standardized Experiences”, and “Do Not Panic” are all the robot Cyren further ingratiating the listener to Planet Zero. Cyren says things like, “We are always here to provide you with standardized experiences, as well as State approved entertainment and re-education.” (“Standardized Experiences”)
A lot of songs tie together, not just with the concept of the album and where they lay in telling the story, but in what I consider one of the central messages, which is take yourself as you are and ask for help when you need it. The spirit of self-acceptance is shown both in “Dysfunctional You” and “A Symptom of Being Human”. I would also include “Hope” in this list as it’s kind of about leaving your mark on the world.
“Make a scene and leave a permanent trace. Show me that rebel inside.”
“Clueless and Dramatic” has a fun little easter egg in the first verse that nods to the debut Shinedown album, Leave a Whisper (which is a favorite of mine). The line is a direct rip from one of their biggest songs, “45” with “Staring down a barrel of a 45.” This time, it’s in a very different context, talking about the drama of current society rather than the potential final moments of someone’s life.
Track number 15 was the last single prior before the album coming out, “Daylight”. The song is described as being about “your savior but not in a religious sense…it’s about the person who makes sure you make it to tomorrow.” This is another strong message of asking for help and leaning on your support system or people who are there for you through hard times. It’s also sonically just a gorgeous song. It’s one of my favorites on the album.
After another message from Cyren, the next song was also a single, “The Saints of Violence and Innuendo”, which is going to be a banger live. The frenetic, yet massively catchy track takes on the platforms and institutions that don’t value honesty and instead use half-truths, false narratives, and innuendo to push agendas that are often not reflective of the people’s best interest.
The album ends with a song called “What You Wanted”. With lines like, “Focus on the screen and kill your self esteem”, it discusses the bad effects of social media and having such access to everyone. It works well as a good closer with the whole album being about the current society via a distant future.
There is a lot of this album I enjoy more than other parts, but it’s a very good Shinedown album. If you’re a fan of this band, you won’t be disappointed!