Shinedown

Shinedown is an American rock band from Jacksonville, United States, active since 2001. Its membership includes Brent Smith, Barry Kerch, Zach Myers and Eric Bass, with earlier members including Jasin Todd and Brad Stewart. The band’s genres span alternative metal, hard rock, metal, pop rock, post-grunge and rock.

Formation and early line-up

Shinedown forms in 2001 when vocalist Brent Smith starts the group after the end of his previous band, Dreve. Smith remains under contract with Atlantic Records and builds the first line-up with Jasin Todd on guitar, Brad Stewart on bass and Barry Kerch on drums. The band’s base is Jacksonville, Florida, after Smith relocates there to begin the project.

Albums and chart success

The band releases seven studio albums: Leave a Whisper in 2003, Us and Them in 2005, The Sound of Madness in 2008, Amaryllis in 2012, Threat to Survival in 2015, Attention Attention in 2018 and Planet Zero in 2022. An eighth album, Eight, is part of the band’s catalogue. Shinedown earns multiple number one singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and sells over 10 million records worldwide.

Leave a Whisper grows gradually through touring and radio play and later reaches platinum certification in the United States. Singles from it include “Fly from the Inside”, “45”, “Simple Man” and “Burning Bright”, all of which reach the top five of the Mainstream Rock chart. The band tours with Van Halen, Seether and Three Doors Down during this period.

Us and Them appears in 2005 and is produced with Tony Battaglia. It uses a more stripped-down sound than the debut. The album includes “Save Me”, “I Dare You” and “Heroes”; “Save Me” becomes the band’s first number one on the Mainstream Rock chart and holds that position for twelve weeks. The band also records a cover of “Tie Your Mother Down” for a Queen tribute album and tours with Flyleaf, Halestorm, Godsmack and Rob Zombie.

The Sound of Madness begins in 2007 during a period of line-up change, with Stewart and Todd leaving while Smith finishes the record with session musicians and producer Rob Cavallo. Released in 2008, it becomes the band’s most commercially successful album, reaching the top ten of the Billboard 200 and later going double platinum. Its singles include “Second Chance”, “If You Only Knew” and “Sound of Madness”; “Second Chance” reaches the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.

Amaryllis appears in 2012 and is shaped around perseverance and personal growth. It debuts at number four on the Billboard 200, with singles including “Bully”, “Unity” and “Enemies”. The band contributes “I’m Alive” to the soundtrack of The Avengers and tours extensively, including co-headlining with Three Days Grace and shows with Papa Roach. Acoustic recordings released in 2014 include cover versions of songs by Metallica and Adele.

Threat to Survival arrives in 2015 and debuts lower on the Billboard 200 than Amaryllis, though several of its singles reach number one on the Mainstream Rock chart. The band tours with Breaking Benjamin and Five Finger Death Punch and continues headlining tours and festival appearances through 2016.

Attention Attention comes out in 2018 and is the first Shinedown album produced entirely by a band member, Eric Bass. It uses conceptual elements and tops several Billboard genre charts. Singles include “Devil”, “Get Up” and “Monsters”.

In 2020, the band releases “Atlas Falls” in support of charitable efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and raises funds for relief organisations. Planet Zero follows in 2022, with singles including “Planet Zero”, “Daylight”, “Dead Don’t Die” and “A Symptom of Being Human”; the last of these first targets adult contemporary radio before moving to rock radio. The band also introduces a line of hot sauces named after its songs in 2024.

Later activity

Work on Eight begins in 2024. In 2025 the band releases several singles from the project, including “Three Six Five”, “Dance, Kid, Dance”, “Killing Fields” and “Searchlight”. The album is officially announced in February 2026, along with “Safe and Sound” and “Outlaw”. Shinedown is also scheduled to appear at major festivals including Sonic Temple in 2026.