Early in 2007, producer Rob Cavallo asked Shinedown’s frontman Brent Smith about his goals for the band’s new album. “You know what, when I’m dead and gone, when everybody in this band has passed or what have you, I want the world to remember this as a record that needed to be made, and that there was a reason for it.” Smith added, “That was the motivation behind this album - and part of the reason why it took so long.”

Shindown is a heavy rock 5 piece band from Jacksonville, Florida who debuted in 2003 with their platinum-certified breakthrough album LEAVE A WHISPER. THE SOUND OF MADNESS is the band’s third album. It’s content is explained by Smith, “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 first-hand through the fans that we’ve made, and the relationships we’ve built with our audience. I think the biggest thing was I didn’t want to sugar-coat the way life can be sometimes. This is my viewpoint. This my view of everyday life.”

It’s been a while since I’ve received a genuinely heavy rock album to review, and certainly one that is this full of melody, truth and total accessability. ‘Devour’ opens with a distant military drum beat that gradually gets closer, and louder. It is then joined by typically heavy rock guitar licks and Brent Smith’s fabulous, angry vocal. It’s been some time since I’ve heard such an epic opening to a rock album, and it’s fabulous. Guitars ring introduce second track ‘Sound Of Madness’ which is an album standout. The monstrous melody is backed by one of the most expressive vocal on the album and instrumental arrangement that is plain awesome. The pace changes cleverly and effectively, while the choruses leave one breathless. This is one mazing heavy rock song!

‘Second Chance’ introduces piano, strings and an altogether more contemplative vibe and pace. The lyrics are beautiful: “Tell my mother, tell my father I done the best I can to make them realise this is my life, I hope they understand…” and the choruses spine-tingling. Smith gives another stunning and moving vocal performance. It’s another melodic humdinger. ‘Cry For Help’ picks up pace and takes on a darker ambience as it rushes along at breakneck speed with venemous drums and fabulous, soaring guitar riffs. There’s extended instrumental passages and a tremndous pleading vocal and all driven by another huge melody.

‘The Crow & The Butterfly’ is a thoughtful, slow and epic beauty which is not untypical of what great heavy rock bands increasingly include in their albums. This is a supreme example of that trend. The instrumental passages are mind-blowing as they lend drama to a devestatingly moving song. ‘If Only You Knew’ opens with the most adventurous instrumental passage before it takes a more conventional retro-rock path. But it still sustains the excelelnt quality that saturates this album. ‘Sin With A Grin’ is a great title and an even better track. The drum rhythm, melody, solo and backing vocals take this to heavy rock hell (or heaven?). ‘What A Shame’ slows to a crawl to inject more fabulous mood and vibe diversity to proceedings. ‘Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide’ is a metal marvel while the acoustic vibe of ‘Breaking Inside’ is emo as it should be done - a classic by any standard.

Low piano notes introduce the final track ‘Call me’ which is another slow-paced, contemplative and moving song with a narrative about leaving - it’s highs and lows. Strings and an expressive vocal make this one of the most beautiful songs here. Shinedown’s Brent Smith laid down his objectives for this record and Cavallo has helped him and the band deliver; it’s probably the finest production work I’ve heard in 2009, one of the best release years ever.

So here’s the deal: if you buy just one heavy rock album in 2009 make it this one.

4.5/5