Shinedown Plugged in to Technology Overlords in ‘The Human Radio’ Video
Shinedown have released a video for the new song “The Human Radio,” which will be featured on the band’s sixth studio album Attention Attention. The 14-song album is scheduled for release May 4. “The Human Radio” is the second video from the record, following “Devil,” which dropped earlier this month.
The new clip starts with images of a mysterious woman, band members and a naked figure from the back, all reflected in a watery shimmer. The images are complimented with a simple, resonant bass line from Eric Bass and resounding vocals from Brent Smith: “I got a four letter word for I don’t care / A whole lot of drive to get me there/ I seen a whole lotta wrong to say the least/ Spent a whole lotta time starin’ down the beast.” In a message of hope, Smith later croons, “Keep moving subject, matter around / Keep your eye on the prize and your feet on the ground.”
As the full band kicks into a highly polished, energized rhythm, the members are displayed performing in a large room, with each musician shining in his own spotlight. The rest of the video depicts a row of young adults walking like sheep in a line, smartphones in hand, headphones inserted in their ears; the girl from the reflecting pool wandering around various settings and outfits; a tailgate party and a passionate kiss.
The lyrics and visuals echo the overarching theme of Attention Attention, which addresses a society both enabled and blinded by technology and, more specifically, the decline and rise of an individual who begins on a spiral of self-destruction and ends with comeback and redemption.
"There is definitely an expression on Attention Attention about humanity,” Smith told Cryptic Rock. “About understanding, I don't want people to forget how to be human beings. What I mean by that is I think sometimes, because of technology, and because there is such a wealth of information, that is a really great thing at times.”
He continued, “We are living in a world where everyone has a smartphone, and if you have a question about something, you can just look it up and find the information that you need. I think that is invaluable in a lot of different scenarios. When it comes to the human spirit, I don't want people to forget how to talk to each other, face to face, and not through a text. Also, because of where we are in society, and not only in America, but all around the world, everybody has an opinion now. Everybody does see things in their own way and they want their opinion voiced. You can do that now with certain social media and what have you. At the end of the day, we are all human beings. We all have feelings, emotions, and drive. We have fears. We have things that concern us.”
Shinedown will launch a co-headlining tour with Godsmack that starts July 22 in Clarkston, Mich. Dates for the run can be found here.
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