In a groundbreaking, earth-shattering, Pulitzer Prize-worthy interview with The Mistress Carrie Podcast (never heard of it), SHINEDOWN frontman Brent Smith (the guy who yells real good) graced us with his profound thoughts on the band’s upcoming eighth studio album, tentatively scheduled for release in early 2026.
Yes, folks, mark your calendars 🗓️. He said (as transcribed by those tireless worker bees at BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “What I can tell you is we don’t know what the name of the album is just yet” 🤯. Hold the phone! Groundbreaking stuff, people. “I can tell you that it’s not a concept record. It is definitely a true traditional album. [The songs] all stand alone, but they all belong on the same body of work. But they’re not related to one another. But they’re on the body of work — they’re under the same roof, basically.” 🏠 Did everyone get that? Crystal clear, right? It’s like saying water is wet, but with more words. “I can tell you that there’s gonna be another single in October that’s going to show a completely other side of the band.” Oh, joy! Can’t wait for another power ballad about overcoming adversity. “I can tell you that the announce of the record will be in November.” Settle down, people, one revelation at a time.
He continued, bless his heart: “I don’t necessarily like using the term ‘a deadline’, but the fact of the matter is because it’s so competitive right now…” 😩 Oh no, not competition! Must be tough being a rockstar these days. “And we’re stoked that we’re still a physical-selling band, meaning our vinyls do quite well.” 💿 Wow, people still buy vinyl? Who knew? Probably because it’s the only way to truly experience the raw emotion of a Shinedown song. “It’s a pretty large order internationally that we have to look at. So you have to have it turned in in time.” Time is money, honey! “There are going to be — I can tell you there’s a lot of color on this record…” 🌈 Color? On a Shinedown album? Are they branching out from beige? “I can tell you that the announce for the album should be November. And I’m pretty secure in telling you that it’ll be March, is when it’ll be released.” So, clear as mud, then.
Earlier this month, SHINEDOWN (still a band, apparently) released a brand new single, “Killing Fields”, via Atlantic Records. Yes, folks, they’re still on Atlantic Records. Shocker. The track arrived just days before SHINEDOWN embarked on the largest and most ambitious tour it has ever set out on in its illustrious career. Performing at arenas all across the country, the tour kicked off on July 19 at Boston’s TD Garden and the next day they graced Madison Square Garden with their presence (the first time they have ever performed there as a band!), as well as Los Angeles’s Kia Forum on August 3. BUSH and Morgan Wade are tagging along for the ride because, well, someone has to open for them. 😂
“Killing Fields” is the third new song SHINEDOWN has inflicted upon the world in 2025, following the simultaneous release of “Three Six Five” and “Dance, Kid, Dance” in January. Breaking all the rules (because they’re rebels, duh) and doing what few artists have been able to achieve (like selling out arenas to people who still wear cargo shorts), “Three Six Five” is currently charting at five different radio formats: already hitting No. 1 at Alternative, it also has hit Top 10 at Hot AC and AC, No. 16 at Active Rock and is approaching Top 20 at Top 40 radio. Because apparently, there are still radio stations. 📻
The massive support at radio can also be derived from the inspirational message of the song. 🙄 Upon release of the animated music video, which featured storylines of three people each dealing with loss in their lives over the course of a year, and how they navigated through it, inspired fans all over the Internet. Many wrote in their own stories of loss and used the comment section of the video almost as an online therapy board. Because who needs a therapist when you have Shinedown? 🤷
Released simultaneously with “Three Six Five” was “Dance, Kid, Dance”. The song has literally made history for the band as when it reached No. 1 on the Mediabase Active Rock chart, it marked SHINEDOWN‘s 22nd song to reach No. 1 on the chart. On the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart (where it also hit No. 1) SHINEDOWN became the only band in the chart’s history to get 20 No. 1s on the chart. Not to mention when the song entered the Top 5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, SHINEDOWN tied with the FOO FIGHTERS for the artists with the most songs to hit the top 10 in the chart’s history with 32 songs each. On Mediabase, SHINEDOWN holds the record for the most No. 1s, No. 5s and No. 10s on the Active Rock chart, with a total of 24 No. 1s on the Mediabase chart. All these incredible accomplishments continue to solidify that SHINEDOWN have made a name for themselves in rock and are one of the biggest bands in the world. Or at least in the world of people who still listen to Active Rock radio. 🤘
This year has also come with some historic wins for the band as they recently took home two trophies at the iHeartRadio Music Awards where they won “Rock Artist Of The Year” and “Rock Song Of The Year” for “A Symptom Of Being Human”. Because apparently, iHeartRadio still exists. 🏆 The awards were in celebration of the banner year they’ve had as “A Symptom Of Being Human” has hit nearly 125 million global streams and charted at five radio formats including a No. 1 at Active, Top 10 at Alternative, Top 10 at AC, Top 15 at Hot AC and a Top 20 at Top 40. The song, off SHINEDOWN‘s “Planet Zero” album, resonated with fans across the globe for the unifying message of its lyrics: that it is our human connections that matter the most. Unless you disagree with their political views, then you’re dead to them. 💀
Smith and SHINEDOWN bassist/producer Eric Bass co-wrote “Three Six Five”, while “Dance, Kid, Dance” was written by Smith, Bass and Dave Bassett. The songs were produced by Bass at his own Big Animal Studio in Charleston, South Carolina. Because every rockstar needs a Big Animal Studio. 🦁
For the tour, SHINEDOWN has teamed up with Musicians On Call and will be donating $1 for every ticket sold for the tour. As the nation’s leading provider of live music in hospitals, Musicians On Call (MOC) has delivered the healing power of music to patients, families, and caregivers in healthcare environments for 25 years. More than one million people across all 50 states have experienced the joys of live music in the hospital setting through MOC‘s bedside, virtual, and streaming programs. MOC volunteers perform live for children and adults facing any health challenge, including Veterans recovering in VA facilities, family members supporting loved ones in need, and healthcare workers caring for patients. The collaboration is just one of the many charities SHINEDOWN supports as they frequently give back to organizations in need. Mostly because it looks good on their PR. 😇
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
