Wait...it's not June 24th.  Why didn't Blogs N' Roses post the Shinedown review after it was released?  Who posts a review two weeks after the album came out?  Don't these websites usually get an advanced copy due to their awesome connections?  The answers are a) because we're lazy, b) hacks, and c) sometimes, but obviously not this time.

In all reality the reason that the review is going up now is that I had to absorb the music before committing my opinion to the blogosphere.  Also, I had to wait for Lars Wettner to give me the CD so I could rip it onto my computer.  The release of Shinedown's third album, The Sound of Madness coincided with Tits Wettner's marriage as well, so we were all kind of busy buying wedding presents (Crisco and Twister) and wearing pink tuxedos.

The new album features a new lineup, including Silvertide alumni Nick Perri.  Nick's rockstar ugliness has given Shinedown a much needed booster shot of eratic riffing and unpredictable timing.  I was a big fan of their last two albums, but this record shows evolution that many of their contemporaries have been afraid to embrace.  Shinedown has been notorious for loading albums with ballads and acoustic cuts since their success with previous singles such as .45, Simple Man (cover version), and I Dare You.  I don't know which will be singles on here but Second Chance, The Crow and the Butterfly, Breaking Inside  , If You Only Knew and What a Shame are classic Shinedown.  Second Chance, What a Shame, and If You Only Knew could all be lead singles in the current music market.

As for the heavier cuts, Devour led the march as the lead single for the album.  It is a little more aggressive and frantic than we are used to hearing from the band.  The song, Sound of Madness kicks you in the teeth as well.  Nick Perri's guitar work is much different than we heard with Silvertide, and I'm not sure how much he had to do with the writing, but it is impressive.  I always thought he was trying to impress himself too much in his previous efforts.

All things considered, I would recommend this album to anybody looking for a nice mix of hard, riff-based rock, and ballads with actual substance.  As with the previous two Shinedown albums, I feel like I will be able to pop this one in my CD player in two years and not be tired of the content.  The tracklisting is below.

1. Devour-3:49
2. Sound of Madness-3:53
3. Second Chance-3:40
4. Cry For Help-3:20
5. The Crow and the Butterfly-4:13
6. If You Only Knew-3:46
7. Sin With A Grin-4:00
8. What a Shame-4:18
9. Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide-3:11
10. Breaking Inside-3:51
11. Call Me-3:42