Shinedown - Amaryllis Review

There’s no two ways about it, Shinedown have been one of the most consistent bands of the last decade, with three studio albums and a double live album under their belts, the band has maintained a steady stream of radio hits, one of the most successful of which is “Bully” the debut single from their fourth studio album “Amaryllis.”

“Bully”, the second track of the album, is confrontational and defiant and full to the brim with energy, emotion and spirit and this sets the tone for the entire album. The album itself opens with “Adrenaline” which exactly what it says on the tin, shot straight into the ear canal to give the most effect and instantly grab your attention without giving in.

The album itself shows a clear progression in the bands emotional growth, in spite of the band no longer consisting of all its original members it is clear that this is a band that is part of that rare few that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Brent Smiths vocal delivery has never sounded greater, and it seems that he wears his heart more in his voice than on his sleeve as his emotions shine through in every word he sings. Eric Bass, Zach Myers and Barry Kerch create a relentless wall of perfectly constructed music, this is their craft and they are all too eager to prove their worth, each member knows their place and it is obvious that this band doesn't value ego.

This album highlights everything that has made this band relevant and consistent. Songs like “Enemies”, “Nowhere Kids” and “Miracle” showcase Shinedown’s unique writing style, sound and musicianship.

The penultimate track on the album “My Name (Wearing Me Out)” is the albums high-point, it embodies everything the band is about and stands for. In this single track the band delivers punch after punch in perfect and elaborate lyrics and hard hitting music.

The Closing track on the album “Through the Ghost” is an echo of “Call me” (From the bands previous album “The Sound of Madness”.) It’s a song like this that ends wars instead of starting or fueling them.

This album has more than cemented Shinedown in the world of music and I imagine that given the emotion this band pours out to their fans they are nothing short of grateful for the gift they have been given of being able to write and perform the music that they love so much to the fans they hold in such high regard. This band may be the first in line to thank their fans for helping them achieve the record and ticket sales that they have, but it is us, the fans who are thankful for a band with such emotion to make music that we can all identify with as deeply as this and not some bog standard pop song off the radio.