SHINEDOWN: Planet Zero

Shinedown: Planet Zero

AJ Castellitto 

Secular hard rockers from Jacksonville, Florida, take on the political establishment with their latest release, Planet Zero. 

Better pray for the soul of the citizen

Better pray that you’re not erased.  

Shinedown takes a big risk on their seventh studio album, Planet Zero, a not so subtlety themed concept album that targets the authoritarian cancel culture surrounding Covid-19. 

“Speak up or they will bleed your courage dry,” rages vocalist Brent Smith on the riveting opening track, “No Sleep Tonight.” And with that, the powers that be and their totalitarian designs are mercilessly pummeled throughout the 48-minute recording ripe with 80’s inspired dystopian interludes and call-to-action hard rock anthems. 

In particular, references to the myriad of tyrannical and oppressive measures surrounding COVID-19 come fast and furious…

They want you to conform, but it’s not in your nature

So they provide the illness that infects your behavior

(And love your neighbor)

– “Clueless And Dramatic”           

This is what you get for breakin’ protocol

Oh, wait, that’s not a thing ’cause I don’t trust you all

They’re pulling at my strings, but I ain’t gonna snap

They push me to the edge, but I keep comin’ back

– “Army of the Underappreciated” 

So get your hands up before the boat sinks

‘Cause this ain’t one for all, yeah, this is groupthink

– “The Saints of Violence and Innuendo”                                    

You don’t care who you ruin

Just keep the fantasy movin’

It’s a hell of a show

– “What You Wanted”                    

Critical race theory and subsidized riots are also brilliantly exposed on the stomp-rocker, “America’s Burning.”

Your theory might be critical but who’s in charge?

If victimhood is currency, then you won’t starve…

Who doesn’t love a parade with gasoline and grenades?

Don’t be afraid, it’s just America burning 

Fortunately, a desire for transparency and an empowered humanity ultimately prevails underneath it all…

We’ve had enough of being powerless

We’ve heard it all and no, we’re not impressed

We are the nightmare that you brought to life

So don’t turn off the lights

There’ll be no sleep tonight

If truth is a friend to the Christian, then Shinedown’s latest is worth more than a review…

Give it a listen!

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