ALBUM REVIEW: Planet Zero – Shinedown

“All hail, power to the people / Except you, you check the box we don’t like,” is a lyric that perfectly encapsulates the message of Floridian rock band SHINEDOWN on their latest album, Planet Zero. The quartet’s seventh full-length release, and second to be produced and mixed by the band’s bassist Eric Bass, is a concept record centred on the sorry excuse of the past two years. 

Peppered with futuristic and spacey intervals a lá Black Mirror, opening monologue 2184 begins with bright and major synths, raising an initially suspicious eyebrow. Whilst these neat intervals help to tie the record together in a coherent timeline, more often than not they feel forced. Barry Kerch’s rolling snare drum into No Sleep Tonight kicks off a pre-riot battle cry. Zach Myer’s clean and undistorted guitar solo slips in and out of good-cop/bad-cop mode amidst Bass‘ bass lines. Offset with distortion and vocalist Brent Smith’s signature call-to-arms voice, title track Planet Zero references the 2020 murder of George Floyd with the lyric “bite your tongue because it might save your life.” A countdown on the doomsday clock ticks into the track’s breakdown, aptly making it the heaviest track on the record.

The futuristic intervals masquerade behind the concept of an idyllic utopian civilisation, stating “during your time here, please do not think critically as this can be problematic,” ensuring everyone is exactly the same and everybody colours inside the lines. As an ex-addict and ambassador for sobriety, the lyrics in Dysfunctional You, A Symptom Of Being Human, and Hope, all explore the narrative of self-acceptance and coming to terms with your demons. Whilst there’s nothing hugely flashy about the instrumental elements on these tracks, they instead raise a platform for the real gem: Smith’s lyric writing. All of the physical and mental health issues we face are what makes us unique and sets us apart from one another, yet are also equally responsible for bringing us closer together. Set against a backdrop of an acoustic guitar and simplistic melodies, full focus is on the lyrics; “Suicide suicide, 123 / Maybe these drugs are addicted to me?”, “Afternoon tea with the impending doom”, and “Keep your dyslexia next to your imaginary friends / They all talk shit about the shape I’m in.” 

Dead Don’t Die is perhaps the closest track old school fans will get to Sound Of Madness-era SHINEDOWN, featuring heavier riffs and more blazing guitar solos than previous record Attention Attention. America Burning, Clueless And Dramatic, and The Saints Of Violence And Innuendo focus on the subject matter of America tearing itself apart, a concept that can now be slapped upon other countries not-so-far from home. The carnivalesque banjo riff in America Burning, coupled with the chorus lyric “who doesn’t love a parade with gasoline and grenades?”, conjures up images of Batman’s The Joker wreaking havoc and revelling in archaic rebellion. 

Bright and buoyant vocal gang harmonies bring a sense of respite in the track Daylight. “So here we are, we’re dressed to kill / Where shall we go?” was a question that played on everyone’s mind when lockdown lifted, and the reprisal aura is akin to an emotional Disney finale track. It feels disjointed then, to end with What You Wanted. The anticlimactic marching band track ends on an incomplete note, like a flame flickering out as the embers fade, leaving a sense of emptiness. 

For those who were disheartened by Attention Attention, Plant Zero returns with a welcomed vengeance. Whilst a few tracks fall short, SHINEDOWN revert back to full-form whilst still experimenting and evolving their sound in a manner that will keep fans happy as well as themselves. 

Rating: 8/10

Planet Zero is set for release on July 1st via Atlantic Records.

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