SHINEDOWN: Attention Attention (ALTERNATIVE METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

After the success of "Threat To Survival" (2015) and its flock of singles having squatted at the top of the US charts (three number 1s and one number 2), it would not have been surprising to see Shinedown avoiding any risk to continue to use a recipe that has proven itself. But since 2001, the Jacksonville (Florida) quartet has not been in the habit of rushing their albums and this is surely one of the reasons for their renewed success. Once again, Brent Smith's gang took their time to offer us a new opus that will surprise us again by its calculated risk-taking, "Attention Attention" being presented as a concept album.

Launched by the well-named 'The Entrance', an introduction composed of sound effects, the 13 tracks that follow speak about the evolution of the narrator's state of mind, who finally wants to be the listener himself, from dark and negative thoughts to finally more optimistic and positive considerations. This may seem boring presented in this way, but appearances are sometimes deceiving. Finely chiseled by its authors and by the production provided by Eric Bass, the band's bassist, "Attention Attention" proves to be captivating from beginning to end, stringing together the hits and making the listener directly experience the evolution of state of mind mentioned above.

From 'Devil', with its darkness reinforced by a chanted vocal like Imagine Dragons' last productions, to 'Brilliant', whose final explosion acts as a release, each piece contains unstoppable elements. These can be in the form of choruses ('Attention Attention', 'Kill Your Conscience', 'Evolve'), haunting keyboard melodies ('Black Soul') or surprising stylistic effects ('Special', a luminous ballad taking part of the chorus of 'Get Up' which precedes it). The listener goes through all the stages of an evolution whose obviousness should not be mistaken for ease, reminding us that we must know how to accept the trials of life to be able to face them. Each track keeping the attention to its paroxysm, we will note however a tortured 'Pyro' reminding sometimes Marilyn Manson, a 'Darkside' alternating scathing passages and others almost dancing, the melodic mid-tempo of 'Creatures', the optimistic pop of 'Get Up' or the catchy and light 'The Human Radio'.

It is thus a new master stroke that Shinedown realizes, proving at the same time an astonishing capacity to question itself and to propose new things with each album. The concept album exercise has never been easy and many bands have failed to do it. On the other hand, others succeeded in offering works which durably marked the landscape of the Rock with a big R. With this "Attention Attention", there are strong chances that Shinedown will join this club as brilliant as restricted. - Official website

SHINEDOWN

ATTENTION ATTENTION

ATLANTIC RECORDS

ALTERNATIVE METAL