Shinedown – ‘Amaryllis’

Four years after the release of ‘The Sound of Madness’ and the stateside hype that followed, the Floridian quartet return louder than ever. 

By louder, I mean that the overall mix of this album is enough to split your head in two; much to my surprise as I merrily whacked up the volume on my stereo. Attempts to make good on their previous success are written all over ‘Amaryllis’, with the group mustering up ‘the anthem’ on just about all of the record’s twelve tracks. Lead single ‘Bully’ roars in with a monolithic stop/start riff that would have Led Zeppelin green with envy, but before long the groove collapses into a saccharine, Hallmark tagline ‘push them to the dirt till the words don’t hurt…you’re a bully’. Producer Rob Cavallo whom joined the band for their last record delivers a crisp and pulsing sound; every instrument, vocal and inflection remains clear, while punchy enough to upset your neighbour’s pets and shake your sub-woofers. 

So what is the problem here? The delicate balance that made ‘The Sound of Madness’ such a compelling listen – the sledgehammer guitar riffs, gritty production, the sing-along choruses – has been thrown off kilter. Grit has become gloss, and their post-grunge roots have been buffed of anything remotely post-grunge. Add to this the embellishments of a thirty-piece orchestra and it makes for a tiresome experience; awkward lyrics such as ‘my Mona Lisa is making me smile’ [from ‘Miracle’] will elude all but ardent emo rockers.

The band remain earnest, which on fragmented listens can be moving – mid-paced ballad ‘Unity’ is a thoughtful paean to the communion of fandom, and the driving rhythm section in ‘My Name (Wearing Me Out)’ bubbles and spatters along nicely. 

For fans of the band’s rousing ‘we’re in this together’ sentiment, this is certainly a welcome addition to any collection; there is no denying that these songs are catchy, with an air-guitarist’s loot of riffs along the way. Conversely, the die-hards who have followed the band faithfully from their bruising, grungy youth – whilst no doubt admiring the band’s perseverance – may find the presence of acoustic guitars and greeting card messages trying.