After months and years of updates from the band via their socials, livestreams, and concerts, delays in production due to the pandemic, and 3 singles released, Planet Zero is FINALLY here!
The album starts off with the track ‘2184’, which is a short 22 second ambient intro. In their recent tour, this is the track used when they first come on stage. It sounds angelic, however once this intro is done, you are then brought down to reality with the hard-hitting track “No Sleep Tonight”.
“We are the nightmare that you brought to life. So don’t turn off the lights There’ll be no sleep tonight” – No Sleep Tonight
‘No Sleep Tonight’ presents you with hard hitting drums and guitars before the vocals come in. It is a heavy hitter and personally one of my favorites from this album. Despite it being under 3 minutes, it is a hard rock jam session that will get you going! You even hear hints of the musical elements from ‘2184’ throughout the song. This song certainly sets the tone for the course of this album. It is high energy, high octane, and in your face!
As the album progresses, the concept/tone of it is that humanity is doomed, cancel culture has taken over, the world ravages from negativity and is trending in a downward spiral on itself. Shinedown makes it known that they are not happy with the state of the world and is making these topics known. They are sending out a message that basically states if we do not change our ways, then the damage will be permanent. The message is loud and clear!
In between tracks you are greeted and being guided by the Artificial Intelligence (A.I) known as “Cyren”. Cyren can be found in interlude tracks such as ‘Welcome’, (In which, ‘Welcome’ was at the end of the Planet Zero music video), ‘Standardize Experiences’, ‘Do Not Panic’, and ‘This Is A Warning’, and is there to ensure you comply with the rules/new normal during your stay in Planet Zero. This feels almost like a cinematic plot for a space movie, and I am here for it!
“Just keep bang bang bangin’ on the big bass drum While the aliens are coming and we’re staring at the sun” – Sure Is Fun
One song that stuck out due to its tone, but overall meaning is ‘Sure Is Fun’. While the song sounds “Fun” and even “Campy”, the lyrics indicate that we are being distracted by our own ignorance while aliens are taking over and inhabiting our planet. The instruments certainly deceive what the lyrics means, an interesting approach.
“You can be twisted but still optimistic, Be the black sheep but not a statistic” – Hope
Though the first half of the album is about the new doomed humanity, the middle part of the album follows with acknowledging that we are the problem and what we can do to restore faith back into ourselves and our planet. Songs such as ‘A Symptom Of Being Human’, ‘Hope’, and ‘Daylight’ show our vulnerable sides, and embrace our mistakes as the first step to restore faith in humanity. ‘Hope’ has a bit of a country vibe to it but still keeps it in the alternative rock vibe/realm. The flow of this album is consistent with the theme, so far so good!
“It’s amazing what the hard times can reveal. Like who shows up, who walks away and who’s for real” – Daylight
‘Daylight’ as we know is the 3rd single off the album has some U2 inspirations behind it, especially when the chorus comes in. It is a delightful track that is about embracement from one another. Arguably it is their best ballad to date.
“Their psycho diatribe ain’t what I wanna hear. But I ain’t gonna stop so let me hear you cheer” – Army Of The Underappreciated
As the album concludes with tracks such as “The Saints Of Violence And Innuendo”, and “Army Of The Underappreciated”, Shinedown keeps that high energy and high octane going still. “Army Of The Underappreciated” gives off some Velvet Revolver vibes with big drums, guitar and bass riffs with some groove behind it all.
“So long, see ya later goodnight. Did you get what you wanted?” – What You Wanted
The closing track of the album is “What You Wanted”. It gives the listeners a cheery Farewell melody in the style of a ringleader in a circus. The song reflects and gives a brief recap of the events that occurred throughout the album. Though I feel the track is a bit gimmicky, I believe that was done intentionally to mock today’s society.
Planet Zero is another successful concept album that details the story of a society that has collapsed on itself due to cancel culture and unwarranted social norms. It is also an album that speaks of hope and restoration to humanity if we as individuals put in the effort to change for the better or live with the consequences of the permanent damage done to our planet. As a great follow up to their previous album Attention Attention, Planet Zero is a journey worth embarking on.
Track List:
- 2184
- No Sleep Tonight
- Planet Zero
- Welcome
- Dysfunctional You
- Dead Don’t Die
- Standardized Experiences
- America Burning
- Do Not Panic
- A Symptom Of Being Human
- Hope
- A More Utopian Future
- Clueless And Dramatic
- Sure Is Fun
- Daylight
- This Is A Warning
- The Saints Of Violence And Innuendo
- Army Of The Underappreciated
- Delete
- What You Wanted
Shinedown will be playing an intimate acoustic show at Daddy Kool Records in St.Petersburg, FL on July 1st to celebrate the release of the newly anticipated album Planet Zero. If you are unable to attend the performance, it will also be Live Streamed via Veeps.
Please visit the event page HERE to get access to the free ticket to this special release day live-stream experience, which will be shared with fans worldwide by Veeps, a premium concert streaming platform launched by Joel and Benji Madden and part of Live Nation Entertainment.
Planet Zero will be available world wide starting July 1st! For more info on how to pre-order/pre-save the new album visit: https://shinedown.lnk.to/planetzero
Are you excited for the new album? Comment below.
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