shinedown threat to survival full album download ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Threat To Survival’ by . You might not have realised it, but along with being the leading light of the modern hard rock scene, Shinedown have slowly but surely become one of the most consistent bands in alternative music. Some might dismiss this as too bold a claim, but recent efforts The and Amaryllis have proved it immensely, with the former’s stellar tracklisting especially more than responsible for taking the quartet past their original intended dadrock-like fanbase. They may not be the most mainstream of bands, but their heartfelt lyrics and colossal riffs have certainly made them one of the most reliable. But this reliability may be compromised for a portion of Shinedown’s fanbase with new album Threat To Survival . Sure, the vast majority of the eleven tracks are underpinned by ’ ear-bursting guitar parts and ’s trademark soaring vocals, but it seems that Shinedown have become the latest band to throw synths into the mix in the hope of modernising their sound. But unlike most pretenders to this type of reinvention, they pull it off extraordinarily well by making the additions subtle. The massive riffs are still very much the focal point of the likes of and Outcast (which both feature two of the ballsiest riffs Shinedown have ever recorded). But the further Threat To Survival progresses, the more dominant the electronics become, resulting in lush anthem Thick As Thieves near the back end of the record which boasts a – dare I say – CHVRCHES-style synth/vocalising opening, and dreamy closing ballad Misfits – both of which have either delayed or non-existent guitar arrivals. The sad part is that next to all this innovation on Threat To Survival , Shinedown’s original sound pales in comparison. The tracks involving synth use are undoubtedly the strongest, leaving -esque the closest Shinedown could possibly get to plodding, and would-be vicious Dangerous lose its bite. And single Black Cadillac becomes rather irritating after a while, if the jazz-like piano hook didn’t already put you off. Although Brent Smith’s vocals are unbelievably strong throughout the entirety of the record, It All Adds Up is a perfect example of how they only ever seem to transition from low and authoritative to belting out a chorus. Although Threat To Survival is in no way a bad album, there is definitely more filler than there needs to be. But there really is something for every Shinedown fan here – be it those diehard fans of that classic Shinedown sound, or anyone wanting a twist on what is already there. Even those not originally fans may be converted due to the large scale of experimentation evident. That seal of Shinedown quality is present, but that is definitely not the main thing to take from this album. The choruses here are absolutely gargantuan, especially on album highlight State Of My Head , and the simplicity of them pretty much ensure massive crowds will be echoing them soon enough. They may be supporting Black Stone Cherry in arenas this coming January, but surely it won’t be long before Shinedown are headlining them by themselves. For fans of: Halestorm, Black Stone Cherry, AC/DC Words by Georgia Jackson. ‘Threat To Survival’ by Shinedown is out now on Atlantic Records. Threat to Survival. The fifth studio long-player from the Jacksonville, Florida-based hard rock unit, Threat to Survival is also Shinedown's most pop-oriented set of songs to date. Front-loaded with two of its hardest-hitting (and classic-sounding) cuts in "Asking for It" and the hefty first single "Cut the Cord," both of which are as hook-laden as they are bruising, Threat to Survival begins to detour from the post-grunge highway with "State of My Head," a slick amalgam of electro-pop and vintage alt-rock with a catchy as hell though extremely well-worn chorus. Meticulously crafted radio fodder like "How Did You Love," "Thick as Thieves," and the Killers-lite "Misfits" follow suit, further distancing the group from its nu-metal origins, but the band hasn't completely lost its knack for crafting punishing blasts of groove-laden and distortion-heavy modern rock. The roaring "Oblivion" sees vocalist Brent Smith doing his best Layne Staley impression while the band lets loose a firestorm of heavily compressed decibels behind him, and late album highlight "Black Cadillac," which somehow manages to both brutalize and swing, seems destined to become a fan favorite. If anything, Threat to Survival proves that Shinedown still have plenty of gas left in the tank, and while the occasional foray into the shallower end of the mainstream may divide some listeners, there's enough here to keep longtime followers satiated (and probably a little curious/nervous as to what the future holds) until the next ride. Shinedown “Threat to Survival” Album Review. I didn’t know Shinedown until “Second Chance” was released back in 2008. I absolutely loved this song and it surprised me that the song didn’t make it all the way to #1 on the U.S. Top 40 or U.S. Hot 100. It got really close though and made Shinedown a recognizable mainstream band name. They probably would’ve reached #1 if they’d had a history of mainstream chart success. This brings us to “Threat to Survival”… This is an album where Shinedown has really outdone themselves. You can tell that they’ve worked hard to perfect this masterpiece. It has well- crafted lyrics and instantly appealing melodies and rhythms. It is hard to create songs that are both catchy and timeless but Shinedown has delivered not one, but many of these on this album. The songs could almost all be classified as hits- it is an album of singles that stand together very well. Here’s a breakdown of the tracks: “Asking for It” The album opens with this catchy track. “Cut the Cord” The first single off the album – stylistically this song seems closest to “Bully” off “Amaryllis” so it should appeal to the more mainstream Shinedown fans. Lyrically this is a better song than “Bully” and has a faster pace- a great first choice for a single. “State of My Head” A great track that has mainstream appeal. “The only way I’m leaving is dead… that’s the state of my head” – the lyrics fit so perfectly with the music… well crafted track. At the start there’s a slight reminder of “Second Chance” but the rest of the song is very different from it. “Outcast” Similar to “State of My Head” stylistically but an original that stands apart from it as one of the heavier tracks. This track conveys the theme of the album: “… don’t you know I broke the mold like a hammer to a land mine …” Yes, they did break that mold and they did it so well! This is one of my personal favorites. “How Did You Love” In my opinion this is the shining star of the album- if it doesn’t do well on the mainstream charts I’ll be very surprised. Another one of my favorites. “It All Adds Up” This is an example of Shinedown breaking the mold with a great result. Although quite different from title track of “The Sound of Madness” there’s a connection with that track. So, they didn’t totally shatter the mold! Another one of my favorites. “Oblivion” An epic song- this one starts off peaceful and then explodes with Shinedown power. Out of all of the tracks this one will probably appeal most to the long-time Shinedown fans. It reminds me of “” or “Crying Out” from “”. “Dangerous” Another catchy mainstream track. This one has hit written all over it. The song has an anthemic quality that will make it a great live track. “… I own my story I won’t say sorry …” Shinedown is very happy with who they are and so should you! “Thick as Thieves” One of the gentler tracks on the album. Quite different from a lot of their other music it is perhaps closest to “If You Only Knew” off “The Sound of Madness”. This tracks fits in nicely with the rest of the album. “Black Cadillac” Another break- the-mold track… again this is one of my favorites. Shinedown shows their creativity and talent once again. They’ve got a “… mind full of inspiration …” and they show it here. “Misfits” Quite appropriately named – if I had to pick one song that seems to be pretty different from the rest of the album it would be this song. Still a good song though and surprisingly it fits with the album. Chart performance to date: “Cut the Cord” got to #1 on the US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) chart. “Threat to Survival” is the third album by Shinedown to enter the top 10 first week album sales with 65,000 copies. All-in-all this is a great album from Shinedown and one that should definitely be in your collection if you like good rock music. If you’d like to read more about the album here are a few other reviews: Shinedown – Threat to Survival (Album Review) September 24, 2015 Shinedown – Threat to Survival (Album Review) Self-described Rock-n-Roll band Shinedown has made quite a mark in musical history over their fourteen year career. After forming in 2001, the Jacksonville, Florida natives hit the scene running with their 2003 album, Leave a Whisper, where hit singles “Fly From the Inside” and “45” put the band on many rockers’ radars. However, it was not until the album’s rerelease with the included cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” that Shinedown became a household name. Their second album, Us and Them , released in the Fall of 2005, produced the hit singles “Save Me,” which spent a record-breaking twelve weeks at the #1 spot on the Active Rock charts, and “I Dare You,” a song Chris Daughtry performed on American Idol and was also featured on WWE’s Wrestlemania 22 . Albums The Sound of Madness (2008) and Amaryllis (2012) followed. In the interim, Shinedown has toured the world with bands like Seether, Flyleaf, Halestorm, Trapt, Alter Bridge, Godsmack, and Rob Zombie. Now Shinedown is back again to give fans another dose of down-home Rock-n-Roll with their newest album, Threat to Survival , released September 18, 2015 through Atlantic Records. Vocalist Brent Smith and Drummer Barry Kerch, the band’s only two remaining original members, along with Guitarist Zach Myers and Bassist/Pianist Eric Bass, have produced Threat to Survival , their fifth studio album, with Dave Bassett (Halestorm, Josh Groban), Pete Nappi (Kesha, The Veronicas), and “The Ninja” Stevens (Daughtry, Tech N9ne). Threat to Survival is an eleven track look into the psyche of people as they learn to deal with life, deciding whether to run away or stay and fight. Getting the album off to a rocking start is “Asking For It” with its catchy hook and riff as Smith sings about people who talk too much smack without a way to back it up. Next, “Cut the Cord,” a hard rocking, drum-driven piece, is accompanied with anthemic riffs that urge listeners to make up their minds and to stand up for their beliefs as Smith croons, “Because victory is all you need/So cultivate and plant the seed…” The intro to “State Of My Head” has Smith’s voice carrying on like a distant thought tickling the back of the listener’s mind before a funky beat kicks in with pounding drumbeats and melodic organ/synths as Smith states that he would rather die fighting. “Outcast” has a bit of Electronica flavor that incorporates a primal drumbeat as Smith drawls, “I’m coming back to outlast every outcast.” The next track asks, “How Did You Love?” with a primitive beat from Kerch’s drums as Myer’s guitar chords weave in out in this tune like an oiled snake. “It All Adds Up” has a an aggressive Swing/Funk vibe as Smith sings, “There ain’t no magic bullet, there’s no cure for the weak/There’s no sympathetic shoulder here to put you to sleep.” Pianos and a gospel choir open up “Oblivion” before a riff cuts off Smith’s lyrics about taking care of one’s demons before they take over their lives. The anthem “Dangerous” has a driving beat and assertive delivery about using the best weapon one has at their disposal… their voice. Pianos and chanting background vocals herald in “Thick As Thieves” as a deep bass beat follows Smith’s lyrics about remaining faithful to someone as they grow into themselves. A Swing piano intro brings in “Black Cadillac” as the drum line asserts itself with a ’70s-centric riff accompaniment. Drawing Threat to Survival to a close is “Misfits,” a finale with a contemplative vibe that culminates the listener’s experience with the album as a whole, with its rich, anthemic drumbeats and light guitars accompanied by synthesized wind instruments as Smith explains the value of being different, singing, “They called us crazy ‘cause we never fit in/We never thought of keeping up with their trends/It didn’t matter that we weren’t on the list/’Cause we were misfits, we were misfits.” The themes in Threat to Survival are age-old issues that have plagued people forever. Shinedown, through the power of verse and their own experiences, have created an album for the times for fans to find their own spirit and strength. As Smith told CrypticRock back in 2013, “We’re always going to put ourselves out there because we can only write about what we know, what we’ve been through, situations that we’ve encountered, the people we’ve met, the places we’ve been to and continue to go to over the years. As we present ourselves to the world, we’re very truthful when it comes to songwriting and how we present ourselves to the public.” That never seemed more true than with Threat to Survival. CrypticRock gives this album 5 out of 5 stars. Shinedown. Shinedown are that rare hard-rock band capable of incorporating big pop moves into their music without sacrificing any of the thunder. In fact, the Florida-bred group have only grown heavier the catchier their songs have become. “Cut the Cord,” one of the most exhilarating rock hits of 2015, drives this point home, employing riffs and a groove that are devastating precisely because they make bodies move more like a killer club track. Boasting a surreal video directed by Bill Yukich (who had previously worked with Beyoncé), the 2018 single “Devil” further fleshes out this approach, building a wall of sound from gospel choir vocals and the kind of synthesizers heard on Imagine Dragons’ unique mash-up of electro- pop and rock. The fact that these hits, novel and utterly electric, arrived well over a dozen years into their career makes them all the more impressive. When singer Brent Smith founded Shinedown in 2001, they were contemporaries of Breaking Benjamin and Nickelback, amassing a global fanbase throughout the 2000s with a rotation of grungy anthems (“Sound of Madness”), anguished power ballads (“45”), and the occasional curveball, like a surprisingly faithful rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” reflecting their Southern roots. Shinedown knew the popularity of post-grunge and alt-metal wouldn’t last forever, so they remade themselves for 2012’s Amaryllis , a record that introduces many of the bold electronic sounds that would come to full fruition on the aforementioned smashes “Cut the Cord” and “Devil.” That takes serious guts, but it’s precisely how long-term success in hard rock is achieved.