The Sound of Madness

Shinedown wrote 40 songs for The Sound Of Madness, picking 11 of the best to make the cut. Then they road tested four favorites, measuring audience reactions to gauge which two were hit worthy. "Devour" won in spades, followed by the title track. Throwing relentless punches and loaded with razor sharp hooks, "Devour" sets the tone with such victorious ferocity that it was licensed as the theme song for World Wrestling Entertainment's June, 2008 pay-per-view event, Night of Champions, as well as the soundtrack to EA Sports' "Madden NFL 09" video game, in addition to which it was chosen to be featured on ESPN throughout the 2008 major league baseball season. A pounding bass drum and sinister guitar riff begin "Sound Of Madness" as sneering singer Brent Smith rallies young outcasts and deserters. If every angry pariah listened to this call to arms simultaneously, there could be riots and fires in the streets. That an album this heavy and angry hit mainstream radio tells you something about the troubled times, circa summer 2008.